Let's Play Legend of Legaia Pt. VII -- Curse Your Sudden But Inevitable Betrayal!
Or, colloquially, Nate.
Garzan: Nathdran... That's an interesting name.
Nathdran: Well don't get too friendly. I hate Seru!
Nate's blatant prejudice against the monsters that killed his parents and basically ruined the entire world aside, I am pretty excited about having him in our party! I mean, the whole deal with the Biron monks is that they decided to train themselves to physical perfection rather than use Seru. And Nate here is their Master Teacher. I'm not sure exactly where that falls on the hierarchy, but I think it's a pretty safe bet that it's somewhere in the vicinity of "pretty high".
So what I'm getting at here is that Nate is the most Badass of a bunch of Badass Normals. Man, this is going to be a bre--
So, yeah, Nate starts at level 1. (For comparison, Statham is currently at level 8 and Garzan is at level 7.) That aside, most of his stats are actually pretty damn good. Except for his speed and agility. Those suck. Remember how I pointed out that Garzan's high speed made her our best fighter? The reverse is true for Nate. Nate's damage output is always going to be kind of subpar compared to Garzan and Statham. He's really well-suited to casting, though, which would be more of a boon if magic wasn't such a pain in this game (and, to a lesser extent, if he wasn't the last guy we got). But it does make him kind of an excellent heal bitch, and I will use him in this capacity frequently. (Game-breakingly frequently, even, in the late game.)
But that'll come up later. For now, let's talk to people before we get going.
Master Teacher, I am honored to speak with one so worthy and noble as yourself.
Master Teacher, I am certain that those Seru are no match for you! Sir.
Master Teacher! I am striving to become like you!
The Age of Hope will come because of your efforts.
Master Teacher could drive away the Mist. I know he could.
We're all rooting for you!
Man, you guys must totally suck.
Alright, enough of this nonsense, let's get this show on the road. After we talk to Maya.
Maya: About Mei... About Juno. And about something else. I want to have a long talk with you, but now the Genesis Tree is more important. Let's talk later, after you come back. Well, then. Good luck! I'll be praying for your safe return.
The tree's not going anywhere, you know. But whatever, we'll talk later, sure.
Out through another airlock and a long hallway, and it's back on the world map.
Our first stop is another one of those areas that lead into the Mist Generator's valley.
Nathdran: The Mist is so thick! It's full of a warped madness and the presence of evil! The Mist is flowing from a strange castle beyond this valley!
Terra: This valley is the passageway for the Mist created by the Mist Generator.
Garzan: Terra, can't we go on ahead?
Terra: I'm sorry, Garzan. I know I'm a Ra-Seru, but I don't have the strength now...
Garzan: I know! I'll find the Genesis Tree and make you stronger! Then you could get through here with no problem!
Nathdran: ? Who... W-Who are you talking to?
Garzan: To Terra!
Nathdran: A Seru? You can talk to Seru?
Garzan: Uh-huh! Terra's nice! She's a good Seru!
Nathdran: You're so strange. You give me the creeps -- both of you! But no matter! Now, on to West Voz Forest, as Zopu instructed us!
Garzan: OK! I'll do my best!
Blah blah we already know we can't go this way and that Nate thinks we're batshit. The point is there is a treasure chest here. A rather important one.
Statham now has the Ivory Book!
Ivory Books are awfully nice items. It increases your chances of acquiring a Seru by a little. I will make great use of this thing.
On the world map are the same enemies there are on the other side of the Monastery: Frogs, Lippians, and Ostriches. Nothing new here.
Good ol' suspiciously empty slot.
A lot of this, though not as much as Garzan had.
This is why. Nate can only get above 2 attacks by Spiriting. Arts don't start until 3 attacks. So slow.
We're not visiting the forest just yet. I want to level up Nate some so he's halfway decent by the time we tackle that.
So we're visiting the cave up at the top of the screen here.
This is the Ancient Wind Cave. It's pretty dark in here and there's not much to see, anyway.
Gimard Lv. 2 and Theeder Lv. 2 are the only enemies in here. Levels on enemy Seru are different than ones on acquired Seru. There are only 3 levels per Seru and an absorbed Seru of a higher level will function identically to one that was absorbed at a lower level. Other than the increased toughness and a different colorscheme, they're pretty much the same across levels.
Garzan absorbs a Gimard and she and Statham both manage to absorb Theeders.
Good Ra-Seru shots (or at least as good as we'll probably get for Terra, since Garzan doesn't have a good "Check out my arm" pose)!
There's a fork a ways into the cave, and each fork ends in a door. We'll check out the left one first.
It sounds like there is someone on the other side of the door. Do you wish to knock?
->Yes
->No
Statham knocked on the door!
Old man: There's no one here! No one!
...Let's.
Let's knock again.
Old man: I said there's no one here! The Mist is outside. There can't be any humans out there. We're just hearing things! No one can go out until the Mist is gone and no one must open this door!
Yeah, that's not going anywhere. Let's try the other door.
Hm. Let's try it again.
Nathdran: What are you doing? No amount of brute strength can open that door.
Well, OK, I guess that's not going anywhere, either. Not terribly surprising. Rails and all that.
That's all of interest in the Ancient Wind Cave now. I hang out in here until Nate's almost up to level 5 before moving on to where we're actually supposed to go.
Welcome to West Voz Forest.
Things we fight here:
Nightos are interesting little buggers. What you see in the image there is a shell, really. There's a freaky little sphere with arms in there. The shell makes them really good at blocking hits, which is kind of annoying, but they're not terribly tough. I don't try too hard to absorb the Nightos, since they're not terribly useful magic--they confuse, insta-kill or, most commonly, do fuck all when used. Lippians are the same as the ones outside. There are also Veras here and Garzan absorbs one yaaaaaay.
There are a few chests with nothing notable (mostly healing items), and a couple I skip just to get this scene.
Garzan: What weird grass. Statham, is it edible?
Nathdran: You guys don't know anything, do you? That's called Bridge Grass. It's tiny now, but it'll be big enough to span a gorge and strong enough to walk on! And, no, it's not edible!
Garzan: Oh. So we can't eat it.
We need to make this grass grow, surprise surprise.
Convenient how there's Fertilizer in one of those chests I skipped over, isn't it? (Why there's fertilizer in a chest to begin with, don't ask me.)
Statham poured the Fertilizer at the base of the Bridge Grass.
And now we can get across!
Predictably, this is a weapon for Garzan.
Notice that her armwarmer's disappeared. I hope you weren't too attached to those things, the other one will be disappearing soon as well.
A little further in, and there's a save point and then a plant tunnel thing that takes us here.
Man, that Genesis Tree ain't lookin' too great, is it? But before we go mess with it....
There's a hidden item back here. The Deep Sea Jewel is an accessory that raises our resistance to water attacks. It'll be pretty handy later. Statham's our fire guy, so he's the one that gets to wear it.
On to the tree.
Nathdran: This dead, rotting tree doesn't look like it has the power to drive away the Mist. But it doesn't matter to me. Statham, hurry up and do whatever you came here to do.
Garzan: There's something wrong! Statham, there's something wrong with this Genesis Tree! This is different from Mt. Rikuroa's Genesis Tree! Terra, what's going on?
Terra: (Silence) We were too late. The poison of the Mist has killed this Genesis Tree.
Garzan: The Genesis Tree is dead?! But I thought you and Meta could give life to the Genesis Tree!
Meta: Regrettably, this one is too far gone for us to help it.
Garzan: No!
Nathdran: In other words, we came all the way out here for naught! There's nothing we can do now. Let's stop wasting time and get back to Biron Monastery.
Nate turns to leave, but suddenly something changes with the Genesis Tree.
Garzan: Statham! Something's glowing! Look! It's glowing!
Meta: That glow! That's the glow of a Ra-Seru Egg! It's a Ra-Seru Egg!
Terra: How fortunate! At least the Ra-Seru Egg still survives! Meta and I will combine our powers and call the Ra-Seru Egg to us.
The Tree peels away, exposing the Egg.
"Now" is one of those "hurry" words. By which I mean I'm in control of Statham again and will goof off as much as possible. Which in this case means talking to Garzan and Nate before actually bothering to grab the Egg.
(Nate is, of course, blocking our only exit.)
Statham now has the Ra-Seru Egg!
Meta: Statham, the Ra-Seru Egg needs the power of a healthy Genesis Tree. Take good care of the Ra-Seru Egg until then.
Garzan: I can't wait to see what kind of Ra-Seru comes out of the egg!
Nathdran: West Voz Forest's Genesis Tree was dead... I wonder how Songi fared in East Voz Forest.
The Ra-Seru Egg is equippable as an accessory and increases resistance to thunder attacks. This will come in very handy very soon.
But back to our cutscene, there is suddenly a flash of light and a boom, which is always a good sign.
The camera switches to a view of the world map and then pans over to Biron Monastery whe--
Oh, well. That doesn't look good.
Garzan: I wonder what happened.
Nathdran: Statham, the Monastery may be in trouble. We must hurry back there!
We're totally done with West Voz for now, so I actually take the word hurry literally for once!
Shiiiiiiiiit.
Nathdran: I'll go on ahead and see what's going on.
Nate runs off and exits the room.
Garzan: Statham! It's the Seru! I smell the Seru!
Oh yay and there are Seru here. Specifically, Gimard Lv. 2 and Theeder Lv. 2, just like in the Ancient Wind Cave.
Let's see if these monks lying around know anything.
(Silence)
...You OK there, man?
O-oh. I guess you're not OK.
(Silence)
(Silence)
Pretty much all the other monks lying around (and there's at least one a room with two exceptions I'll get to later) are dead as doornails. These guys... really do kind of suck. No, seriously, any time you have a group of Biron monks and then later see Mist in that area, the next time you see that group of monks, their numbers will be severely diminished. It's kind of sad, really.
Well, that one guy mentioned the kitchen, so let's check it out. Its door is closed, unlike all the other ones, so that's probably a good sign.
Who is it? Could it be... Is that you, Statham?
->Yes
->No
That voice! It's Statham! Wait just one moment while I unlock the door. Quickly! Hurry inside before the Seru monsters come!
Zopu: Well, Statham and Garzan. I'm glad you reached us safely.
Zopu: So the Genesis Tree of West Voz Forest was already dead. That's too bad. As you can see, things here are a mess. That Songi betrayed us! The monastery wall was destroyed with a great blast. Then came Songi and many Seru. The Mist came in and caught us off guard. There were so many Seru monsters. Songi had a Seru on his arm. That Seru may have been controlling him. We barely made it here alive. Such a pitiful story.
Garzan: Zopu... What about Nathdran? Where is Nathdran?
Zopu: When he heard that Songi had done this, he ran off in a rage. Maybe he went to look for monks that survived the attack... Or to track down Songi. There's nothing I can do now. Nothing. What a disgrace I am!
Garzan: Don't cry, Zopu! I'll fight hard, so don't cry, Zopu! Statham, let's get rid of the Mist! Let's drive the Mist from Biron!
Hmmm, I think the Grand List needs some editing now.
Grand List of Ways People Dealt With the Mist:
-Build a huge wall around the village (susceptible to doomlasers)
-Put on Seru and lock yourselves up, effectively time traveling to when the Mist is gone (ballsy, but risky)
-Put airlocks at all entrances (susceptible to backstabbing cockbites)
There we go!
There's nothing else of import in the kitchen (except for the free healing we can get that makes the monastery an excellent grinding area), so let's move on and check the women's bedroom which is a phrase I cannot really manage to make sound innocent.
Oh. Great.
Garzan: Gasp! Oh, no! Arrgh! Maya! It's Maya! She's turned into a Seru! Maya, wait!
Terra: Garzan! Stop!
Garzan: But...
Terra: If you rip it off her like that, she'll die!
Garzan: Why? I don't understand!
Terra: Listen, Garzan. Listen carefully! You should never remove Seru from a human when the Mist is around. The Seru and human are one, so if you do that they'll die. There's only one way to free a human who's turned into a Seru monster. And that is to get rid of the Mist! You said there's a Genesis Tree in East Voz Forest, right?
Garzan: Yeah.
Terra: If you want to help Maya, you have to awaken the Genesis Tree there.
Garzan: Then Maya will turn back into a human?
Terra: Garzan, I would never lie to you.
Garzan: Maya, I promise... I promise to destroy the Mist!
Not like we weren't already going to?
There's a letter on the floor here, let's check it out.
Statham began to read the unfinished letter.
I was so shocked and I shed many tears. When I think of how lonely you must be, my heart breaks with grief. When you were still young, I left you and came to Biron. I left because of the Mist. Please forgive me for leaving you in Rim Elm. Statham says I can return with him, but there is something that keeps me here at the Biron Monastery a little longer. Please forgive me. There are two orphans here, Songi and Nathdram. They are about your age, and they are like sons to me. My obligations here compel me to stay. You must think that I don't care for you, but that is not true. I know that the people of the village are supporting you. Please forgive
With that all sorted out, it's time to move on to East Voz Forest.
Or not?
Nathdran: It can't be true! Songi did all this? How could he have done this! What was he thinking? I have to talk to Songi! I have to find out why he did this! But... Statham! Garzan! Are you going to East Voz Forest now?
->Yes
->No
Nathdran: I knew it! I know that Songi is waiting for me in East Voz Forest. If the Genesis Tree is still alive, I'll revive it and free the monastery from the Mist! After traveling together, I know how strong you are now. Actually, to be honest, I'm not confident enough to go to East Voz Forest without you. I need your strength. Please! Will you take me with you?
->Yes
->No
Nathdran: Thank you! From the bottom of my heart, I thank you!
And now Nate's back in our party! Also the part where I said I was heading to East Voz now? Yeah, I lied, I just wanted Nate back for grinding. But at least you don't have to see any of it.
Here's the entrance to East Voz Forest. I got into one fight on the way here and both enemies were new.
Hornets can poison, unsurprisingly. They're also really good at dodging, being so tiny and airborne. Gomboos are basically just tougher Gobu Gobu.
Here's East Voz. A little ways in, Nate stops us.
Nathdran: I feel something... I feel Songi's presence! Songi is here! Statham, Garzan, I need you two to promise me something! Even if Songi appears before you, don't fight him. I know this is asking a lot, but... If a Seru possesses his soul as you say, then I want to be the one to take care of him. I will detain you no longer. Come, let's hurry!
Enemies:
Twin Tombs don't do anything special. Gizam is our first Water Seru and both Statham and Garzan manage to absorb one. Gizam's one of my favorite Seru designs. It's. It's made of metal, guys. Take a close look at it. So. Bizarre, really. The Gizam summon can cause poison, which is theoretically neat. Mushrin are pretty much the same as Mushrooms. There are also Nightos here.
There's this grass blocking us from treasure! Stupid grass.
Garzan: Nathdran, what's a Weed Hammer?
Nathdran: It's something used to break Crystal Grass and other types of hard grass.
Garzan: Oh.
And now we can go break that stupid treasure-blocking grass! (Also despite the mention of "other types of hard grass" I am pretty sure this is the only time in the game we actually use the Weed Hammer.)
This is like the 3rd or 4th Guardian Water we've gotten this update. The others have gone to Garzan, but this one goes to Statham. (Nate, despite still being two levels behind the others, has already exceeded their base defense stats.)
Finally, Nate gets some equipment in the form of a weapon!
It's not a very neat-looking club.
We adventure our way past a Suspiciously Placed Save Point, and, well, you can probably guess what one of those means.
Garzan: Look, everyone! It's the Genesis Tree! And it's alive! Yeah! Statham! Nathdran! It's still alive! The Genesis Tree is still alive!
Nathdran: This Genesis Tree does seem different from the one in West Voz Forest. Did Songi find this Genesis Tree? Or did the Genesis Tree mislead him into taking a wrong turn somewhere?
Meta: Statham! An evil presence draws near! Hurry! Let's revive the Genesis Tree!
There's that hurry word again!
The Earth Jewel! Just like the Deep Sea Jewel hidden at the other one, but for earth!
Goofing off thus completed, time to grow some tre--
Oh for fuck's sake.
Songi: Nathdran! I knew you would come! You're so predictable! How thoughtful of you to come all the way here to check up on me! I'm flattered! But don't worry about me! I'm the picture of health -- physically and mentally! I may be wearing a Seru, but I haven't done anything stupid like let it control me! This is a special Seru! It gives me pure energy, extraordinary power! Nathdran, you're no match for me now! Fight me! I'll destroy you, just like I destroyed Biron Monastery!
Suffering succotash, Songi, could you be more of an evil little fucker?
Nathdran: Garzan, you promised to leave him to me, right?
Nathdran: You... You are not the Songi I know! You're nothing but a bloodthirsty beast! I don't know what happened to you, but you are obviously void of a human spirit. If you want to fight me that badly, then I'll fight you! I'll beat the evil out of you and return you to normal! Now fight me!
Songi: You hopeless simpleton! You still don't understand the situation! Well I'll show you! I'll hammer it into that thick skull of yours!
What follows is what can most politely be described as a "Total Asskicking".
Songi: This is ridiculous! Absurd! You need more practice! You're not even worth dirtying my hands over! I'll leave you to one of my cohorts. Have a nice, enjoyable, pleasant... death!
Viguro! Just like Caruban, clicking on them will lead you to a video recording of the fight. Viguro are thunder Seru, you may notice. They can be absorbed if one is incredibly lucky.
I happened to get incredibly lucky and Statham absorbed the first one.
Thunder Break is their special attack, doing 100-some damage. Their melee sequences are honestly nastier and can break 200 damage.
They go down easy enough, though.
Songi: You're holding everyone down! As a fellow Biron monk, I'm ashamed! You were so bad, I was ashamed to even watch! Oh, I've had enough! I'm going home! Let's play together again another time, Nathdran... If a wussy like you can manage to stay alive, that is! Ha, ha, ha!
And Songi jumps off like a grasshopper on springs. Dude can jump, I'll give him that.
Garzan: I hate him!
Meta: But Songi's Seru, that definitely was a... Nevermind! We don't have time to talk! We have to revive the Genesis Tree! Hurry!
Gotcha, "hurry".
Awww, Nate. :(
He feels a gentle warmth in the palm of his hand.
Terra: Garzan! I'll help you!
Garzan reached out swiftly to touch the Genesis Tree.
As the Tree emits its power, the camera pans off to the left and then fades out. It then shows us Rim Elm
while panning upwards and fading out, and then Mt. Rikuroa.
It pans to the right from Mt. Rikuroa, but doesn't fade out this time, instead coming to rest in that damn Mist Generator valley.
And, incidentally, the auras radiating from the tree kindly dissipate some of that thick Mist, which means we can finally access this area! \o/
A Ra-Seru from a Ra-Seru Egg?! :O Nate, you are supposed to be the smart one here! The Ra-Seru floats in Nate's general direction.
Nathdran: Ra-Seru! Is it me you have chosen? Very well! I submit myself to you! To defeat Songi, the villain who attacked Biron Monastery... I submit myself to you, Ra-Seru! Take me!
Do you really have to be so melodramatic about it, Nate? The thing's not going to eat your brains, I promise.
I am Ozma. I am a Ra-Seru. I sense you do not wish to open up your mind to me. Please do not fear me! We Ra-Seru exist only to lend our strength to humans, not control them. Your mind will remain your own. I will not tamper with it. And besides, I have chosen you. Just as you submit yourself to me, I entrust you with my very destiny. Never forget that! Nathdran, I am counting on you, and the future that you will create for us.
Fuck yeah, level up!
Nathdran: Statham! We must return to Biron Monastery! I fear for Master Zopu's safety!
And the game even takes control!
Garzan: I hope the Genesis Tree's powers reached Biron.
Looks like it did!
Zopu: Biron has been freed from the Mist. I thank you again. But, you, Master Teacher!
Nathdran: Yes, sir!
Zopu: You defied the teaching of Biron and wore a Seru. As ruler of the Biron Order, I cannot forgive you. I hereby excommunicate you!
Nathdran: (Silence) I understand. I was prepared for that.
Zopu: (Silence)
Nathdran: Garzan, it means I'm no longer welcome at Biron Monastery.
Garzan: What! That's not right! Nathdran didn't do anything bad! How can you kick him out after he fought so hard for us? Zopu, that's wrong!
Nathdran: Garzan, stop! Zopu is only doing what he must. Monks like me all take a vow to obey certain rules. I broke those rules, and so I cannot be a monk of Biron anymore.
Garzan: That's OK, Nathdran. Statham and I will be your friends! Statham and I won't ever turn our backs on you!
Noa's RAEG is so cute, guys. She hops up and down the whole time she's shouting at poor Zopu. It's pretty great.
Maya: And Garzan, and Master Teacher! You're all safe! I heard about what you did. That's really something! I'm so proud of you. I also heard that the Genesis Tree caused the thick Mist in the northwest valley to thin, revealing a strange castle. Statham, I know you. You plan on going to that castle, don't you?
Sure, after I finish what I came here to do and take you home. It's not like it'll be that much longer of a walk. You don't even have Songi and Nate to use as excuses anymore, since Songi's a jerktown and Nate's coming with us!
Maya: Silly! You have more important things to do than worry about a middle-aged woman like me. And you call yourself Val's son? You call yourself a native of Rim Elm? After traveling so far with Garzan and Master Teacher and meeting so many people... Don't you feel anything? Is your heart made of stone? I am not going back to Rim Elm! If you won't go to the castle, then I'll go in your place!
O-or you could totally chew me out for even suggesting that, that's OK, too. I-I'll get back on the rails like a good little silent protagonist, I promise. You don't have to beat me with them, really. ;_;
Zopu: Hmm. It was ten years ago, when that castle was built and the Mist flowed into this region. Unless we destroy that castle, the Mist will never go away and more tragedies will occur. I'm sure of it. Statham, Garzan. I'm counting on your Ra-Seru. And you, too, Nathdran.
Nathdran: Yes, Master Zopu!
Zopu: Nathdran, I want you to take care of Songi! Even if it means wearing a Seru against the rules of Biron. You and Songi... You are two of my dearest pupils. Like my own flesh and blood! Nathdran, I'm counting on you to take care of Songi!
Nathdran: (Overcome with emotion) Yes, sir!
And now for a little more dicking around before we wrap this one up and get the show on the road.
Zopu: I see. Songi submitted to the Seru willingly. He took a shortcut in order to become stronger. How foolish... And Nathdran has also used a Seru. The times are changing. Perhaps old men like me cannot keep up. What a pity.
I see. I'm sure you must despise Songi.
Well, I can't say I'll be starting his fanclub.
Oh rub it in why don't you.
Maya: Now you're acting like someone from Rim Elm! I'm counting on you! Good luck, all of you. I'll be waiting here for your safe return.
The shop here has new stuff now, including tons of upgrades and a nice set of equipment for Nate finally. I buy everything, which I can juuuuusssssst barely afford, even selling all the stuff I traded in.
Next time on Let's Play Legend of Legaia: Everybody's swanky new outfits, Ozma, and finally tackling that damn Mist Generator!