T w e n t y S i d e d

We, the heroes, have a loooooong walk ahead of us. Yes, while great Yensan Sandsea before the Tomb of Raithwall consisted of the Ogir-Yensa and Nam-Yensa, the road to Archades’ capital will see us depart from Nalbina Fortress through the Mosphoran Highwaste, the Salikawood, the Phon Coast, the Tchita Uplands,Pronounced “SEE-ta” and the Sochen Cave Palace,Pronounced “SAW-shen” with detours through the Nabreus Deadlands and the Necrohol of NabudisPronounced “nah-boo-DEES” itself if I feel like a badass, and I always feel like a badass.Pronounced “tool”

After moving so very hurriedly for most of the game, the pace slows to a near crawl around this point. Know merely that a daunting length of time passed between that last paragraph and this next one; nothing of any note happens, save for one small but significant scene at a small camp in Phon Coast.

Continue reading ⟩⟩ “A Travelog of Ivalice, Part 11: Capital Offenses”

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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—