ToA Replay Notes - #02

[aviy]

Baticul

-Mohs tells Tear that the seventh fonstone is in Akzeriuth.

-In the peace letter there is the request for help with Akzeriuth from Kimlasca, which would have been the event that would have sealed their peace.

-Ingobert's ...talking person (Alpine) refers to the world under the outerlands as "Gnome's domain". I wonder how common knowledge it is that they are basically on floating continents? The miasma, at least, seems to be somewhat of a given among the leadership.

-The reason Malkuth couldn't help with Azeriuth is because the miasma is blocking their route.

-Luke is Kimlasca-Lanvaldear's Goodwill Ambassador. lololol

-Luke doesn't like this idea. "Me? No! I've had enough fighting already" This is an interesting change from the Luke at the coliseum who is all YAY LET'S GO POKE THINGS WITH SWORDS while everyone else trails a long. Of course, it helps that the coliseum fights aren't real (Luke doesn't find this out until later) but I imagine it's a given that they aren't fatal. He hates killing throughout the entire game.

-What exactly is the idea behind letting Van free to help Luke? I know it gets Luke to co-operate, but seriously, if you actually think he's a threat, don't let him walk out. I suppose the score must say something of Van's involvement in the destruction of Akzeriuth. Fuck you Mohs =D

-Now that I've read Asch's gaiden, I see Van uses the same words on Luke as he used on Asch. "You've been chosen."

-So I'm confused. Tear reads Luke's score from a fonstone. But she doesn't 'score' it the way Ion does, she actually reads writing. They say that this fonstone was from Yulia's score and it fell to the earth in Kimlasca. They DID mention that Yulia's score took up seven fonstones, is this part of the seventh?
Also, why do they need to find Yulia's fonstones if someone like Ion can go read the score? And why is the score Ion reads special, if Scorers read the score for stuff like the weather every day?

-Actually, they MUST have looked into the rest of what that Fonstone said. I bet they asked Daath to look into it. Because knowing Luke would die is what distanced Duke Fabre from his son.

-With that in mind, there is something heartbreaking about Duke Fabre saying "Now, though, it is time you became a hero." and sends his son off to die.

-Jade mimics "...a hero" in that thoughtful, almost sad tone of his. Did he ever hear that score read? Does he go to Akzeriuth expecting that Luke might die?

-Natalia wants to go to Akzeriuth but Ingobert forbids it.

-"If saving the people of Akzeriuth will save Master Van, I'll do it!" o-oh Luke. BEGIN RAPID DESCENT INTO STUPIDITY.

-Duke Fabre's 'final words' to his son? "Luke, Yulia has given you the power of hyperresonance. Use it to save Akzeriuth." I wonder if he knows at this point that Luke will destroy Akzerituh (which he could live with, it's Malkuth territory) or if he just knows that Luke will die there? Also, "Yulia gave you the power..." so in part, I think Yulia is viewed as something of a god. Unless Luke is a descendant of Yulia and no one mentioned that to me.

-Wow, I COMPLETELY FORGOT that Van 'wanted' Luke to join him as a member of the Oracle Knights. When Van was still NOT EVIL I thought this was an awesome idea and wanted it to happen =\

-"Yeah, it said I'd bring prosperity to Kimlasca and stuff." Oh. God. ahahaha. I love you luke.

-VAN at least knows the score by heart. Which is a given, of course. But he goes on to tell Luke "The Score Continues. 'The youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca.'"

-Luke DOES at least note that "If I don't go to Akzeriuth, those people will be in trouble."

-Van tells Luke that Luke will move the people of Akzeriuth away from the town and war will break out. So then what Luke has to do is CLEARLY to remove the miasma. lol. GOD, KNOWING HOW IT TURNS OUT. VAN YOU ARE SUCH A BITCH.

-"After that, you can run away with me to Daath." YES I AM GOING TO QUOTE PRETTY MUCH THIS ENTIRE SCENE shutup.

-I won't fail in kidnapping you Luke =D

-"That's the first time anyone's ever told me they needed me." I wonder how much of a complex Luke has over this?

-"You're the only one who's ever praised me and scolded me and taken me seriously." I can actually see Guy neither praising or scolding Luke. Until Akzeriuth, Guy very much just deals with Luke's attitude, he's occasionally sympathetic but he never tells him what to do or how well he's done. I imagine Luke got praise when he LEARNED stuff that Guy taught him, but it's not quite the same. However, he probably DID take Luke seriously, though Luke might have felt like it. I imagine Guy DIDN'T take him seriously a lot of the time too. Unflappable and all that.

-kajsd;a VAN FACESKIT. Okay, I suppose I DID get it the first time, but since I didn't know THERE WOULD NEVER BE ANOTHER ONE it didn't quite register as important at the time.

-When they plan to leave Baticul for Akzerituh 'Oracle ships are seen watching the Central Ocean'. It's seen as an attempt by the Grand Maestro faction to interfere. It's really ironic that Jade didn't see this coming, actually. He should have known that Mohs, above all else, would upload the score. Mohs has no reason to prevent Luke from getting to Akzeriuth.

-Regardless, they decide to head to Chesedonia by land.

-The sea past Chesedonia is the "Rotelro Sea" ten to one the "Rotelro Bridge" spans it.

-"Luuuke, don't you trust me?" Mildly scolding tone. I need to do a better job of remembering Van's speech mannerisms. For some reason in my head, I always hear him as the kind of guy with a free and jovial laugh. I think that's because when he DOES laugh it really sticks with me (IT'S A GOOD LAUGH) but while he's usually mm... nice enough, kind of... optimistic? he appears very genuine. He isn't really all happy or kindly or anything. Very much a kind of mixture of soft and stern. Expects his orders to be taken but isn't above explaining things to people honestly, or listening to their concerns, or reprimanding them when their concerns are stupid.

-"So that leaves the cold-blooded woman and the woman-hater"
"Hey, don't give people the wrong idea! I love women!" (His voice kinda squeaks on 'love', it's hilarious)
"I'm not sure shouting declarations that you're a womanizer is much better..."
And then Guy is so indignant when Tear won't listen to him explain >D

-Which reminds me. I wonder how Tear comes across in the jap version? I read in Ruu's blogs that Tear's VA sometimes failed to give the ice-woman feeling. But I never... got the impression myself that Tear was meant to be an ice woman. I DID notice that Luke comments on it a lot, but to me Tear was obviously a very warm person, a very honest and mm... direct? person. but very no-nonsense and very distant, composed. But always always warm. So it always struck me as weird when Luke would call her cold hearted, I suppose because of all the characters, I probably relate to Tear the most, and while she is a lot of things, cold never seemed like one of them to me. SHARP maybe, not cold.
Anyway, it makes me wonder if she comes off as more icy in the jap? I don't really mind either way, I'm VERY HAPPY with Tear as the character I know her, but I'm curious.

-Luke thinks Baticul is pretty damn nifty.

-I LOVE Anise's early game, full out 'infatuation' with Luke. (and how it utterly disappears after Akzeriuth >D)

-Tear actually apologizes for getting in Anise's way >D

-..Ion is seen leaving the city with 'some circus performers'. Oh Ion. Mohs wasn't involved in the kidnapping. This results in speculation of if the God-Generals and Mohs are really connected or not.

-Back when he was a kid, Guy liked going places he'd never seen! Chances he was snuck in through that factory?

-Hm, Guy wants to take Luke to the dojo 'that I've wanted to take him to' for a while now. Meaning he probably saw the place and thought "Luke would like this" then he wants to take Luke even when Ion needs to be saved, saying "Luke's been stuck in his home for years". It's actually surprisingly thoughtful of him. He even says please really nicely. and "thanks everyone" lajsdf Gosh, guy.

-The FS cores are unique to Kimlasca, this is the first time Jade encountered them.

-YES. ACCESS TO MY FSCS. I've missed you, babies.

-Anise asks the chefs about the food where she goes as 'part of her training to be a bride' >D The funny part is, women marry into money to have an easy life. BUT ANISE WORKS REALLY HARD FOR THAT GOAL. >D

Abandoned Factory, Baticul

-Guy SO snuck into Baticul via the factory. Who else comes up with a random idea of "Oh we should be able to sneak out through the crater wall!"

-Luke: "The world outside is no place for a spoiled little girl" lol Luke

-Natalia visited a battleground in northern chesedonia to encourage the troops. The same battle, I imagine, that Jade and Cecille were at.

-A master of Lanvaldear-style archery! She'll be more useful than "This empty-headed Oracle Knight, or that uncivil one." Natalia really does shape up a LOT. Ironically, no one calls her on it the way they do with Luke.

-"Anyone else think I should rip daddy's little girl a new hole?" OH GOD I forgot about that line. I love you Anise.

-Natalia gets to join the crew by blackmailing Luke about hearing his plans with Van. She only heard the parts about Van being the one to kidnap Luke, and their plans to run off to Daath together.

-Asch hates pinky swearing... Luke takes it seriously. Oh Luke.

-Luke flings around 'ambassador' a lot more easily than 'heir to the throne'.

-Luke looks a little sad about not informing Guy of his plans with Van. Meaning he would have told him otherwise.

-Natalia, Luke and Guy have a REALLY cute, playful relationship I don't remember taking note of before.

-Woaaaah. Radiant Howl has a new image if you do it when Luke still has short hair. He's HAPPY. I guess cause he doesn't know that hyperresonance SUCKS yet.

-Natalia has Luke and Asch's headstrong traits. FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE, LET'S RUN HEADFIRST INTO EVERYTHING.

-Guy does play up his speech patterns for royalty. +40 IN ASS KISSING.

-I'm stilly really confused as to why ANYONE lets Luke run around setting barrels of oil on fire.

-Hm, Guy DOES tell Natalia that this is his first time inside the factory...

Field, Outside Baticul

-ASCH'S HAIR IS CUTE AND FLOOPY AND DARK-TIPPED WHEN HE'S WET. zomg socute.

-Oh. Oh my god. What. Just. "Aren't you the ladies' man." WHAT THE FUCK ASCH. WHAT. THE FIRST TIME YOU MEET YOUR REPLICA FACE TO FACE AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY? Aahahaha c-can't breathe. Asch too stupid ajksdf;asda XDDD

-o-on a more serious note LUKE HAS THE MUCH MORE REASONABLE REACTION of being bodily ill by the prospect of having a double

-Hm... this part struck me as odd the first time. Everyone skips RIGHT OVER the fact that one of the six god-general's looks just like Luke and starts making plans. However, Jade and Guy are the ones heading it up, Jade goes so far as to push desicion making on Luke. No one could have missed the fact that Luke was so disturbed he went to throw up, and for Jade this is the final confirmation he needs to be sure Luke is a replica. So... my guess? Jade wanted to push past the subject, partly because he hates explaining things, mostly because of that one iota of morality in him that feels bad for Luke but knows they're better off not dealing with it right now. Guy's clever enough to go along with it, and I think at that point everyone else gets sucked in? Guy has to have his own questions... I don't think he knew ahead of time that Luke was a replica, but I think at this point the theory might be developing in his head.
Note that the main way they distract Luke and move past the subject is by going "ION IN DANGER" even though they weren't THAT worried about him before. I'm really getting interested in Luke's relationship with Ion.

-As a side note, Luke WAS the only one close enough to get a good look at Asch's face. But I think, given Luke's reaction, no one would really doubt that they did look alike and it wasn't just a coincidence.

-Ah, going by the skit that comes afterward, Guy goes for the 'long-lost brother' route, which is the most obvious. Right after that I bet is "illegitimate child?" (WHICH IS HILARIOUS) and various other possibilities. Guy probably HAS heard of fomicry, what with his way of picking up information, but I doubt it was his first thought, given that it's rare, and he probably doesn't know the key point about replica's not having memories.
My main reason for believing Guy didn't know Luke was a replica to begin with was because he didn't really have a reason to. I doubt he ever questioned it a lot. Everyone said it was Luke, it LOOKED like Luke, so it's Luke. And seven years later "This is Luke" is probably pretty firmly ingrained in his head.

The Desert Oasis

-Asch first contacts Luke at the Oasis. He's very demanding!

-Lol dreck

-Asch tells Luke that they are at the Zao Ruins "Don't blame me if something happens to Ion."

-The Zao Ruins are from 2000 years ago. "Where are they?" "I don't know, I'd be most grateful if the leader of this mission would find them for us..." o Jade.

-Gee knows who Guy is by his name. I'm guessing Guy has rumors of his existance and safety going around among the people who used to serve his father and survive. Or maybe just among the Arcane Artes Council.

-The Guy Talk showers skit >D goes roughly-
Tear: "A shower would be nice"
Luke: "mmmm shower"
then Natalia and Anise proceed to be all LUKE I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE THAT KIND OF PERSON and Guy has a HAPPY SMIILE the entire conversation. And Luke is just w-what did I do? >D >D Then
Jade: "My, Guy. You are lucky. You're drooling, they would have been on you in a second if they'd noticed." >D

-I think the loading times are at their worst in the Zao Desert.

-The Zao desert used to be much more hospital and had a large city. The oasis buildings are from the city's outskirts. The water at the Oasis comes from when he fonstone crashed into the earth and opened up an underground spring that filled the pool.

Zao Ruins

-Luke tries to touch shiny things without wondering if they might be dangerous |D

-Tear on Fonons: "Every structure and living thing has its own intrinsic vibration and emits a corresponding sound. Those are divided into six fonons. Tiny differences in their vibration and connects distinguish individual matter.

-The crystallized fonons carved a fon verse into the Sorcerer’s ring to grant it new power. Makes you wonder what would happen if it was carved with some of the first fonon, or the sixth.

-Ahaha. I forgot. "One does not develop a well rounded personality until their fourties. I'm working to develop a memorable character to be remembered throughout the ages. To that end, I'm dedicating myself to driving you yongersters crazy." I love Jade >D

-...was able to beat Sync and Largo on hard, but when I tried Arietta on Hard I couldn't hit for more than one hp?

-Asch is pretty eager to tell all with Luke, but Sync stops him... infact every time Asch is about to blab SOMEONE shuts him up. I wonder how used the rest of the god-generals are to covering for Asch's headstrong temperament?

-Sync: "Let's make a deal..." Guy: "We won't need any deals if we just wipe you out." |D O Guy.

-Sync casually points out that if Guy wants to continue the fight, he'll bury everyone in the desert. Largo: "We'd die too, of course, but that's a sacrifice we're willing to make." I really like Largo >D

-Sync knows about Largo's connection to Natalia. I kinda wonder how close those two are. Does everyone in the god-generals know everyone else's story? Well, Asch doesn't.

-Oh, Sync answered the question for me. "There's no need for the six god-generals to know each other's pasts". But I BET they do in their various ways anyway. Arietta's probably isn't a secret. Van and Sync might be the only ones that know Largo's though. He seems like the type to never mention it.

-When Luke doesn't act like he cares about saving Ion is when Anise first starts to really lose patience with him.

-Memory circles with particles coming out are escape routes! =D

-The reason for the Order of Lorelei protecting the Sephiroth is 'confidential to the order'. I'm guessing then that the fact that the planet is flying on the sephiroth is confidential too?
Ion goes on to say that even with the seal off, they shouldn't be able to do anything. Oh Ion, you're a little stupid, aren't you?

-In the cooking skit, when everyone is praising Anise's cooking and Ion mentions "She says it's the best way to catch men!" Luke looks really confused >D Socute.

Chesedonia

-Guy's getting progressively more worried about Luke's headaches. He even insists on Luke resting after the most recent one.

-It takes about three attempts (that we see) for Asch to be able to control Luke's body. In a way, taking over Luke's body like that was pretty mean. I bet he was really confused =\

-Anise: "Health problems, huh? If I have to nurse someone I'd be better off with a rich geezer who's ready to kick it ♥" |D

-When confronted with "what's wrong with Luke?" Jade more or less frankly says that he won't tell them yet because Luke should be the first to know.

-HE DID IT AGAIN. Luke is sitting on his bed MOPING and Jade brings the conversation around with saying to Ion, "After Akzeriuth you can come back to the capitol with me. ...Oh, I'm sorry, it's up to Luke to decide, isn't it?" God Jade >D IN YOUR OWN WAY you're really sweet. He knows how to avoid subjects so well he can help OTHER people do it, it's cute.

-The Ant Lion Man is a weird part of Auldrant's folklore. A merchant-thing that throws yoru shit into a hole and gives you something in return that may or may not be worth what you handed over. IT'S LIKE A GRAB BAG.

-Van got to Kaitzur Port before the party got to Chesedonia. He sent a carrier pigeon saying that he planned to proceed to Akzeriuth with a vanguard unit.

-The cursed fon slot on Guy is in his right arm where Sync cut him.

-Ion on curse slot: "It's a Daathic fonic arte applied to a person's fon slots. It reads information from the brain, using the person's memories to control him. The power of the curse slot varies, depending on the proximity of the user."

-Afterward, Ion notes that 'only a fon master can use Daathic fonic artes. He must be..." this would be when Ion realizes Sync is another replica.

-Luke admits worrying about Guy |D

-At this point, Tear still trusts Mohs but has given up standing up for him.

St. Binah

-Tear scares men into doing the right thing |D

-...and she's scared of men loving her >D

Deo Pass

-Luke says they wasted time in the desert (saving Ion) and "We don't need Ion anymore, the war won't start as long as I'm around." I think this is the part where Luke really started to manage to annoy me, and I only let it slide cause A) he's obviously being taken for a ride by Van and B) he has a lot of confusing twin stuff going on. However, considering how careful Luke was about helping Ion before, it's a weird thing to hear coming from him. Maybe it's because he believes in the score and that, even if they HADN'T saved Ion he would have been okay because Luke's chosen to a hero and will fix everything etc? I wonder.

-Ahaha. When Tear, Natalia and Guy all assure that Ion IS INFACT NECESSARY Jade's response is "I see. You're all still young." >D Oh Jade.

-I suppose Luke being such a bitch is all attributed to Luke being so antsy to get to Akzeriuth. It still annoys me though. YOU LIKED ION A LOT EARLIER what happened to that? Well, I guess Ion does annoy the players with his tendancy to hold things up, maybe that's gotten to Luke too.

-Legretta's answer to why they are kidnapping Ion and such "To win freedom and free will for human beings." FUNNY HOW PEOPLE CAN TELL YOU THE TRUTH EARLY ON AND YOU WON'T GET IT FOR ANOTHER THIRTY HOURS.

-Anise's first hint that she's on Mohs' side "If the score shows the future, then it's best to live as it says..." she doesn't do much more of this until later on when the party starts going against the score.

-"The score's other than Yulia's are vague and hard to understand". aksdj; SCORE READING CONFUSES ME. Okay. I take it 'other than Yulia's" means anything not on one of the seven fonstones. These are probably the everyday scores. So with the exception of Yulia's which IS pretty too the point, daily or yearly scores are kinda general? Probably still more specific than what we're used to.

-Luke bitching about being ignored during battle is hilarious >D

-Even Legretta calls Luke a reject D= SHE DOESN'T WANT TEAR ASSOCIATING WITH HIM. THAT'S DESCRIMINATION. But more likely is afraid of Tear dying in Akzeriuth.

-Ion stops Jade from bringing up fomicry in Luke's presence.

-Jade is Not Happy. "Was it Dist?" "What does it matter? The die has been cast, Necromancer!" "Over my dead body!" I echo Anise here "Colonel... you're actually really angry." After this point, Jade downplays his opinions on fomicry quite a bit. But right here, when he first finds out for sure that it has been started again, he's really, really, pissed.

-Luke's pretty frustrated about being ignored. And I guess I could understand that. He wants to be a hero and everyone's making him feel powerless and stupid, but Master Van understands D=

-FORESHADOWING. Luke bitches about Tear not explaining anything and Tear says "You're just a puppet who can't do anything without my brother around?" Personally it seems a little out of no where to me. I don't think WANTING PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN STUFF qualifies as being a puppet. But then she goes on to "you better start thinking for yourself, or one day you're going to do something you can't undo."
Additionally, in that skit Luke mentions "Master Van always explained things to me if I didn't know." It's actually kinda... both sad and cute to realize how much of Luke's life has compromised of NOT KNOWING STUFF. I have lots of vague memories of being a young kid, and not being able to put two and two together because I was missing the second two, and everyone else had it. For Luke, who probably developed faster than a toddler does (or else he wouldn't be able to act his age half the time in only seven years of growth) it must've been a pain to deal with that constantly.

Akzeriuth

-"Natalia stay away from them, they're dirty, you might catch something." While this is a REALLY CRASS THING TO SAY it occurs to me that Luke probably has zero familiarity with the concept of this kind of suffering. I wonder how much of it is selfishness and how much is just ignorance?

-Due to Akzeriuth being such a good mine for minerals, whatever side owns it the people are worked more or less to the bone. And I believe the miasma has always been present? It only recently got a lot worse.

-I definitely didn't give Guy enough credit about Luke before. Originally I thought he just didn't care about Luke until he knew Luke was a replica. I think the reality is he DID care, but he was still fulfilling his role as a servant. Even in Akzeriuth, when Luke is being VERY STUPID his best friend does nothing to really hit him over the head with it, something he would do easily later. Meanwhile Guy still looks sad when Jade honestly calls Luke useless. Natalia also defends Luke in the sense of... "We'll just have to make up for it until Luke realizes!" rather than "I'll get him to snap out of it >\" they both have faith in Luke.
Anyway, my point being I don't think what cases Guy to change his attitude toward Luke is the fact that Luke is not Asch so much as the fact that A) leaving Luke behind to go with Asch made him feel crappy. Probably because he raised Luke and feels responsible for Luke's failure. He can't blame Fabre blood for this. And also because he LIKES Luke and has for the past several years, and it's more like... seeing Asch probably rekindled that hatred, I doubt it was on Luke and then transfered over to Asch. And then B) once Luke makes it clear that he's trying to change, Guy is very supportive of him, and less distant. Less a servant and more a friend, meaning he can say the good things and the harsh things. Prior to their friendship being solid, Guy never really praises or scolds Luke much. Later on he's VERY open minded about his opinions.

-Ah, I think it's that an earthquake shook up Akzeriuth and that released more of the miasma than usual.

-Ion orders Tear to go check on the Seventh Fonstone.

-While being a bitch, Luke's feeling really crummy. It's still fairly inexcusable, even for Luke, but I honestly think he doesn't UNDERSTAND why everyone is mad at him. This might be the first time anyone's ever expected him to do anything and he's failed to do so.

-One fon slot seal costs about 10% of Malkuth's yearly budget >D God, Jade. INCIDENTLY they were planning to use that on Ion. Which makes NO SENSE since they want Ion to open the Sephiroth. Unless he doesn't need fonons for that, or else it's such a low level thing to do? But in that case, Sync should be able to do it.

-Asch contacts Luke to yell "DON'T TAKE ANOTHER STEP". If only Asch were clever enough to realize HEY HE DOESN'T TRUST ME MAYBE I SHOULD TRY EXPLAINING Akzeriuth might NEVER HAVE HAPPENED LIKE THIS.
Though I wonder what kind of effect these contacts have on Asch. When he took control of Luke, did he collapse afterward too?

-And again "Don't go any further! Stop, before it's too late! Listen to me!!"

-"Stop, damn you! Don't go! Are you trying to destroy Akzeriuth?!" I wonder how much Asch thinks Luke knows. Not being very smart himself, I doubt Asch can understand the concept of what Luke's life has been like >D

-Luke's arrogance HURTS ME in this arc, I'm so glad he never does it again >D

-The Vanguard that Van takes to Akzeriuth is destroyed by Oracle Knights who have orders to take Tear away.

-Asch runs through the tunnels with griffons chasing him, shooting fire at him >D It's... actually pretty hilarious.

-"Now... 'Foolish replica Luke' unleash your power!" God... Van's FACE when he says that. This really is Van's worst moment. I mean, I love him. But this HURTS. ALSO HOW DID HE BRAINWASH LUKE LIKE THAT? Fonic ability?

-"When I order you to release your power, you will open every fonslot in your body and unleash a hyperresonance."

-I suppose hypnosis was the only way to be sure Luke would do a hyperresonance right? He doesn't have the training otherwise.

-Van: "You've finally proven useful, replica."
Luke: "Van...?"
Asch: "Damn! We didn't make it!"
Van: "Asch! Why are you here?! I told you not to come!"
Asch: "...Too bad.
I also brought the sister you tried to save!"
Van whistles for the grphyons, one picks up him, the other picks up Asch.
Asch: "Let me go! I'm going to die here, too!"
Van: "I'd intended to save Ion with that, but now I have no choice. I can't afford to lose you."
Tear: "Van! I knew it! You've betrayed me! You said you were going to preserve these Outer Lands! What about the people of Akzeriuth? The Oracle soldiers in the Tartarus? They'll all be killed!"
Van: "...Mysterica, some day you'll come to understand the folly and ugliness of this world. I want you to live... At least long enough for me to see you come to your senses. You have the fonic hymns. Use them..."
Jade: "Damn! The tunnels are collapsing!"
Tear: "Everyone, come close! Hurry!"
Guy carries a half unconscious Luke toward the rest of the group and Tear sings the second fonic hymn.

-Van basically chooses Asch's life over his sister's. Why exactly was it that Van needed Asch so badly? To lower the Sephiroth? I'm pretty sure he never has him do that...

Qliphoth

-The little boy who was visiting his father from Engeve is the one who dies, stuck under his father's dead body. His name is John =\

-These were HORRIBLE SCENES to have Anise in the cat outfit for ^^;

-Even Jade doesn't know about the Qliphoth

-"Two thousand years ago, the miasma enveloped Auldrant and infected the land. That is when Yulia red the seven-part Score, finding a way to escape destruction and bring prosperity. Based on the Score, Yulia proposed a plan to raise the planet's crust using the Sephiroth."

-Only maestros and above know the story about the outerlands and the Qliphoth.

-Oh god, the scene where Luke breaks down still hurts me in my heart D=

-Luke pretty much DOES accept that it's his fault right after that, because in the next skit he says nothing at all. Only Guy defends him "Don't talk about Luke like that. We don't have time for that now."

-Guy worries about the waterfall from the outerlands crushing the Tartarus, but it's not directly OVER the city, it's too the side? They wouldn't have to go through it.

Yulia City

-Lost to Asch again D= But it seems most appropriate that way.

-When Luke is talking in Asch's head, Asch is a LOT more mellowed down than he was while swearing at and trying to kill Luke. It's kinda surprising.

-Asch doesn't kill Luke in his sleep because "he won't resort to those kinds of underhanded tactics on trash" Oh Asch.

-PS I love Luke/Asch

-Hm, Asch opened Luke's fon slots because he wanted to be able to tag-team Van with Luke. Asch would keep an eye on Van using his status, and Luke would stop Van. However, somehow Asch figured out that Luke would never believe him and would have told Van everything. But Asch didn't see enough of Luke to understand this...? I wonder if Asch knew from his own experience. It must have hurt coming to terms with how badly Van had used and betrayed him.

-When Guy shows some faith that Luke will realize what he needs to do, Asch thinks "He's as naive a fool as he always was..." In what ways was Guy naive during their childhood?

-Ion doesn't like Yulia City because they have different opinions on the score.

-I do find Anise's loathing toward Luke rather ironic, knowing that she's a spy and will ultimately result in Ion's death.

-Who did Asch hear about the Qliphoth from? Van? I wonder if Van told him stories about it?

-The reason they take the Tartarus back up on the vestiges of the Sephiroth is because Asch insists they need it.

-"The Sephiroth are places where the planet's fonons are concentrated and memory particles spout forth. The pillars -- Sephiroth Trees -- are the result of artificially strengthening those memory particle spouts."

-I just realized that we never really see where everyone finds out that Asch is Luke's original. I suppose they had the information to figure it out from when Legretta mentioned fomicry, since Luke was probably the only person present who didn't know what it was. But still, you would think the team would have discussed it at some point?

-lol, despite what Natalia says, I think Guy has zero interest in supporting Asch >D

Port Belkend

-Asch comes off pretty cold toward Natalia. But I really think he doesn't know what the fuck to do.

-Ahahaha, the skit where Anise tries to set up Asch and Natalia with food |D

-Also, ironically I triggered the skit where Guy and Jade talk about not wanting to get poisoned by the 'royal pair' when Luke isn't here ^^; And Asch actually CAN COOK.

-Anyway! Jade is a bachelor, no servants, and thus can cook. Guy can cook A) because he likes making things and B) because he often misses meals because he'd get enraptured with fontech.

-Asch's equip: Maestro Sword ... o, Asch is Maestro rank, THAT'S WHY HE KNOWS ABOUT THE QLIPHOTH. Anyway. Maestro Sword, 230 p atk. Maestro Robe, 35 p def, 35 Luck. Maestro Stone "A crest made from fonstone carved with a portion of the Score" does nothing!

-Also, Asch's Luck rating (with equipment) is 98. As I recall. Luke has the highest Luck in the game, but I'm not sure if was wearing anything to change that. Robes seem to grant Luck.

Belkend

-Ahaha. Natalia made Asch pinkyswear that they would return to Belkend one day. But Asch had said it didn't matter, because his father never kept his promises. >D God, Asch. I get the feeling that Asch was the same abusively honest little kid that he is now.

-Spinoza was involved in Asch's kidnapping and Asch knows about it. I'm guessing he was the one there at Choral Castle.

-Applying fomicry to living creatures if forbidden.

-Dr. Jade Balfour, the Father of Fomicry, made dozens of replicas.

-On Jade being a hypocrite: "Then you have no right to criticize me!"
"I'm sorry, I have no desire to engaging in mutual wound-licking. I have no intention of covering for someone, just because they've committed the same sin as I." luv u jade

-Oh wow. When they have the father of fomicry discussion, and Anise asks "Does that make Jade Luke's father?" (Father? If I had a son I'd want him to be much smarter and more lovable) Jade answers that since Van used fomicry on Asch, that made Van Luke's father. And Luke says "Van...? My father? But..." and Asch says nothing but gets this really bittersweet, self deprecating smile alksjdf;asf h-he thought of Van as his father too x.x

-Conversation overheard in research lab 1: "This is no good. We're out of fonimin. We can't make replicas without it." "Already? the next trip to the Ortion Cavern to collect more is still a ways off. That cave itself is convenient, but having to go all the way to Radessia to get it sure isn't..."

-akjsf;a GOD LUKE AND ASCH'S SKITS BREAK MY HEART. The bit where Luke talks about how "they all chose you over me" and Asch is all "I guess they prefer a former enemy to dreck like you" and then when Asch is actually almost smiling when he says "I'll send them back to you later, if they're so important to you" and he gets that bittersweet look again THAT DESTROYS ME. ajksd;fas Aaaasch ;____;

-Jade thinks Dist went to the Ortion cavern because he is used to be with Malkuth. Since Ortion cavern in Kimlascan territory, Malkuth can't get to him there.

-Jade is the only person not surprised when Guy says he's leaving to go back to Luke.

-"I'm worried about Luke, I have to go back for him."
Anise: "I don't believe you! Who cares about that idiot?"
Guy: "I do, because he's an idiot. I don't know what he'd do alone. And... I have faith that he can get past this."
Natalia: "Guy! You're Luke’s attendant, and his friend! The real Luke is right here!"
Guy: "This may be the real Luke. But my friend is that idiot."
Luke: (Thanks, Guy...)
Jade: "It's up to you if you want to go back for him, but how do you intend to return to Yulia City?"
Asch: "...Aramis Spring. It's a cave northwest of Daath. If the replica comes back to the Outer Lands, he'll pass through there."
Guy: "Thanks, Asch."
Asch: "...Humph. I knew you'd choose him."
Guy: "Did Van tell you? Well... that's not the only reason."
Natalia: "What are you talking about?"
Guy: "...Nothing. See you."
Guy runs off.
Natalia: "Luke! Aren't you going to stop him?!?
Asch: "Don’t call me by that name. It's no longer mine."

-It's really interesting to watch Asch, even THIS Asch, be the Luke that Natalia was so inspired by. I know part of Natalia's problem is not acknowledging that Asch has changed. But part of Asch's problem is not admitting how much he hasn't changed. Natalia is right, in a lot of ways, I think he's still the same.

-Incidentally, Asch is really bitter about what he is. "Seven years ago when I was kidnapped, Luke died inside of me. All that's left is his shadow." But despite those words, and that yes that DID suck and hurt, Asch lived his own life. I think he must have been happy, at least somewhat, until Van betrayed him. I wonder if things would have gone different, if Asch could have shown a little bit of pride in who he is, if not for the fact that he now knows he was led on for seven years?

-I love Ion D= He even makes Anise feel guilty about not having some faith in Luke >D

-Explosion is like the perfect fonic arte for Asch. "Bring all to ash and ruin - Explosion!" WHICH MAKES ME REALIZE THAT PEOPLE USE DIFFERENT FONIC VERSES because when JADE casts explosion he says "Grant my enemies a final rest! Explosion!" GYP.

Port Sheridan

-Asch can refuse Natalia nothing >D

-Natalia learns her shiny new artes from Master Nick |D mmm artes

Ortion Cavern

-WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE WORD 'ORTION' JADE?

-Anyway this is the first time Jade has been to Ortion cavern.

-lol THREE TIMES NOW someone has said to effect "Wow, Asch! You're actually really nice!" >D

-Asch fucks up anything that wants to touch Natalia |D I SHIP THEM SO HARD OKAY.

-Asch is such a dick. He basically threatens to hurt the party if Luke doesn't shut up EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW ASCH IS INCAPABLE OF IT. Luke buys it though D= o asch >D you just like seeing luke squirm =\

-Rending Sabre is badass.

-The fomicry equipment in Ortion Cavern appears to have been abandoned for 'some time'.

-They find research on, basically, how big a replica can you make?

-Thirty million square kilometers is is more than a tenth of Auldrant.

-The fomicry data also contains data from the destroyed island of Hod, which was smuggled out by Dist. Jade says he was the one that had the data taken. GUY WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THIS.

-Despite Asch being a dick, Luke is immediately concerned that his existence might be killing Asch. I think this is less concern for Asch and more terror at the thought of being responsible for any more deaths. Though, perhaps already he's developing a fondness for Asch.

-Asch: "Weaklings, out of my way!"
Jade: "You say 'weaklings' as much as the weaklings do."
Asch: "S-shut up!"

-I get the feeling that Asch and Natalia have a lot of "So I snuck out of the castle" stories >D I can SO see Guy getting dragged along to make sure they're alright.

-The earthquake that occurs while they are at Ortion Cavern is southern Rugnica falling, courtesy of the fall of Akzeriuth.

-The passage rings are protected with Yulian Seals

-Asch shuts off the connection with Luke. Which makes you wonder why he was letting him tag along in the first place. Pity? Company? Revenge?

Yulia City

-WELL ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING THE AWESOME LUKE WE KNOW AND LOVE. The first two things Luke does on waking up!
"Mieu...."
and "Oh yeah! St. Binah's in danger!" Welcome back honey |D I love your whiney bitch self but mostly I love your awesome squishy self.

-While Tear's rant about Luke not thinking for himself is VERY TRUE she keeps saying it in regards to the wrong stuff. Luke wanting to RUN HEAD FIRST INTO SAVING ST. BINAH even if he doesn't have a plan ISN'T A BAD THING.

-Though I still love Tear >\ Guy gets the most points for having faith in Luke when even Luke didn't. But Tear immediately agrees that if Luke really wants to change, he has the chance to do so. AND THIS IS KINDA WHY I SHIP GUY/TEAR. They are united in their love for Luke |D

-Sometimes, i'm not sure the people doing the animation scenes and the people writing the game are the same people >D FROM THE MOOD TEAR WAS IN I wouldn't expect her to give Luke that soft, fond look just cause he chopped off his hair.

-Tear is HARSH. And I love her. "I'll watch you, but don't ever take it for granted. I can give up on you at any time." >D

-Ahaha. When Luke has a skit with Tear he basically says that she'll probably need to explain a lot of stuff to him. I am REPEATIBLY STRUCK but how much Luke must Not Know, that he takes it as a given part of his everyday life that he won't know what people are talking about. It probably didn't happen as much in the restricted manor, but as soon as he was tossed out into the world, I bet it was basically something that happened constantly. He really DOES learn fast in some ways. When he puts an effort into it, people generally don't have to repeat themselves with him. ...except certain stupid Luke things. Like DON'T KILL YOURSELF LUKE and other such hard to learn lessons.

-Yulia City was around since the Dawn Age and the technology it's made of is what protects it from the miasma.