T w e n t y S i d e d

Emerging from the jungle, we enter directly into… a glacial mountain range? Yeah, the geography in this game makes no sense. It’s time for the ice level and goddammit an ice level is what we’re gonna get. Bur-Omisace, known the world over as a holy place and an enclave of peace, has attracted a great number of refugees with the war building up, and even as we pass through the mountains a great number of them are on their way. Balthier blames the Empire for their suffering, but Larsa is quick to point out that he’s trying to head the war off, and is certain his father shares his views. But Balthier merely tells him that he can never truly know another, not even your own father.

Well, let’s just check in on the old man, eh? In Gramis’ study, Vayne is meeting with his father. The Senate has determined that Vayne needs to be sent away, but Vayne pleads that whether he stays or goes the Empire’s problems will be just the same. Moreover, he has become convinced that the Senate hates House Solidor unconditionally, and will never stop their games of seizing whatever concessions they can until they can do away with them entirely. To this end, Vayne suggests finding some pretext to have the Senate gotten rid of, just as they use the disaster over Jagd Yensa to get rid of Vayne.

Gramis is tongue-in-cheek about how fast Vayne is to suggest the most ruthless course of action, but, as Vayne points out, it was Gramis himself who established this as standard procedure for the Solidors many years ago. Furthermore, he insists that it isn’t for his sake, but Larsa’s; Larsa can’t contend with the Senate the way he and Gramis can, and they must take action on his behalf so that Larsa doesn’t have to learn the hard way and become as jaded and callous as they are. Gramis is skeptical indeed that Vayne would care about his brother’s innocence, but Vayne, morbidly candid, admits that his hands are already stained with blood, and he has no innocence left to preserve.

The Emperor knows the future is no longer his to guide. His last words are thus: “And so House Solidor lives on.”

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “A Travelog of Ivalice, Part 10: Pour Some Slaughter on Me”

The Rocketeer —PLEASE—STAND—BY—

In the morning, Larsa is waiting to travel with us to Bur-Omisace. He mentions running off from his escort, so yes, it seems he really is sneaking out windows at night to engage in this skullduggery. There’s probably a crowd of Judges getting their shit wrecked in Zertinan Caverns, where he purposely led them to get eaten by skulwyrms. Ashe is willing to travel there with him, but says she hasn’t quite made up her mind yet about what to do once there; it will take some convincing along the way to set her on one path or the other.Not the last time this will be the premise of our journeys. But Larsa has an ace up his sleeve, and tantalizes the princess— and the player— by revealing another reason he wanted her to come to Bur-Omisace: to meet someone, “both friend and enemy,” but he coyly refuses to say anymore until they get there.

Well, successful troll is successful, and half the party goes traipsing back to Ozmone at his well-shod heels. Meanwhile, Basch hangs back with Han and Chewie. Basch points out that Mount Bur-Omisace is in the Jagd Ramooda, and thus they have nothing to fear from Imperial air power once there.

Balthier grabs him by his fool shoulders and screams, “What the fuck do Dalmascans have against paying some goddamn attention?!” And, shaking him like an idiot child, adds, “Do you not remember last week? When exactly what you just said totally fucking happened? To us? THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DIED!”

Fran, as always, merely stands wordlessly by, likely offended someone else would try to deal exposition or geography trivia to her, while her keen viera senses are ruffled by the shifting of a fate now viciously tempted.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “A Travelog of Ivalice, Part 9: Jungle Fever”

The Rocketeer —PLEASE—STAND—BY—