Matt Addison's blog

With Hilda recently kidnapped and nothing better to do than to play fetch, Maxim and Tia joined with Guy on a quest to get his sister back. Their destination is a tower to the south-east of Tanbel.

The walk is brief and the party arrives at the base of a massive tower that stretches into the sky. The aim is, quite obviously to get to the top - however hoards of monsters and more puzzles await the party upon entrance to the tower. Fighting their way through, it's found that Guy is quite good with a blade, albeit a little slow. Well, at least when he actually gets a hit in, it does a significant amount of damage and mosters fall to either side of him, cleaved like a block of wood being readied to light a fire in the hearth. How heart warming. Only, minus the splatters of blood, and other liquid sustenance of the enemies.

The apex of the tower is reached only upon finding a key, operating a lift platform and lowering a ladder all which consists of a lot of going back and forth. Finally at the top, and almost out of breath the party enter the locked door to find Camu holed up with Guy's sister Hilda. Why someone would lock themselves in a room and wait to be caught up to is beyond me.

Guy exchanges some words with Camu and then the battle begins. Unfortunately, Jelze does not really like this battle, and gets barbequed pretty quickly by the attack that hits everyone with swirling flames that dance across the screen. Anyone fancy some toasted marshmellow? Without taking a moment out to enjoy the treat, the party make short work of Camu. Before he dissapears, he threatens the party by attempting to make the tower collapse. Despite the fact that the very foundations of the building shake, the party just stand there. Come on! The Catfish got more of a reaction than this!

Before the walls can crumble around them, the party end up being rescued by Iris, the mysterious woman that approached Maxim previously. She gathers the party together and teleports them back to Tanbel... BUT BUT!! There was treasure at the back of the tower! Great! Now there is a second trip that will need to be made!

The party arrive back in Tanbel minus Iris, which seems suspectively like one Viki from the Suikoden series. ACHOO! Ooops, where was I?

After Hilda rests up the party meets Guy's girlfriend, Jessy who promises to look after the injured woman allowing Guy to join the party and allow them to be off on their jolly way. Next stop, Clamento! But one must head through the tower first. It was quite an arduous trip, but by redoing all the puzzles and ascending to the height of the tower, one finds three treasures that are of benefit to the party, one being the Camu Armour which has the ability to heal the party 25% of their HP for a fraction of IP. Sounds like a fair trade off.

After their descent from the tower and a trip north, the party soon finds their way to Clamento. It's a small settlement in the middle of nowhere, presided over by a rich man who dearly desires the Ruby Apple from the cave to the north. Do I smell ANOTHER fetch quest? AGH! One of the stores is a glass craft, where the lady advises that her husband, Jaffy is currently out and has been for awhile. What's he up to...?

Setting out north, the party end up at the Ruby Cave where they have to trak through lava infested caverns to get the the bottom. Upon entering one may notice another Capsule Monster sitting idly, and can even shoot arrows at it. Unfortunately, the arrows don't do anything (Although maybe the abuse could be a reason to disloyalty as to why Blaze escapes from battle when he loses a fraction of his health...?) The party eventually run into him and he also joins without a battle. His eye quirks as he looks at Jelze. Is it edible? Hrm...

At the very bottom of the cave the Ruby Apple is found. But as the party approach to pick it up, a monster appears before their very eyes. I-I-It's a GIANT SPIDER! GYAH!! I HATE SPIDERS!! But luckily, like other monsters in the cave (For some reason), it's suspectible to fire based attacks. Wow, live in a fire cavern and you're weakness is the very atmosphere you dwell in. Time to find a new abode? Or maybe hell will be more fitting? The party defeat the monster and send it on it's merry way. Unfortunately, in the battle the Ruby Apple gets shattered. Hang on though... ruby isn't supposed to break. Guess it was made of glass? Heading into the back of the cave, the party run into Jaffy who was the next meal of the Tarantula. Greatful for saving him, he gives the party another Ruby Apple also made of glass. Maxim decides to be sneaky and sell it off as a real ruby to the mayor of Clamento in an attempt to gain lots of money. Tia is gobsmacked by the very idea, however Guy's eyes light up in anticipation.

Returning back to Clamento the party part with the fake apple and receive a sizable amount of money that Maxim sees fit to give to the glass shop so they can pay their rent (You see, Jaffy was gambling his money on the poker machine in Alunze. Tsk Tsk! He won't take the money at first, but eventually parts with a glass trinket that Maxim gifts to Tia. She's so excited that she jumps around like a lunatic. Um yeah.. keep it in your pants, honey!

In gratitude for the apple, the town owner allows the party passage to Parcelyte Kingdom in the north. Tia sighs as she's sick of all this walking, but the party hike up their skirts and set out once more.

Arriving at the Kingdom of Parcelyte the party find a young girl being bullied who is saved by a very sexy looking woman. The woman runs off to the castle, and the men follow with their tounges dragging in the dirt. Tia throws a scornful look at Jelze for eating her cooking supplies and it just gurgles in satisfaction.

Arriving at the castle, the party witness the woman, Selan, sparring with a soldier whom she annihalates. The party are so awestruck by her that Tia has to stop them from lolly-gagging by threatening Guy to tell Jessy that he's whoring himself out. He pulls himself into line. Although secretly Tia wishes that her own breasts were as big as Selan's...

Anyway, it appears that the King wants a treasure from the north and has been waiting for Maxim after hearing of his good deeds in Alunze Kingdom. The party accept yet ANOTHER fetch quest and are made to pair up with Selan to collect the Treasure Sword. What is with these people and their fetishes for particular items? First and apple and now a sword? Not like either of these items are at all useful! Setting off, the party engage in nothing short of blunt conversation as Selan really doesn't need their help. After all, a flash of breast and the enemies are charmed. ;D

The party eventually arrive at the shrine and complete the complex puzzles until they reach the centre chamber. Here two clowns appear and challenge the party. Only, when defeated individually, they revive prompting the party to consider their strategy. Selan comes up with taking on both enemies at the same time, and thus they split up to do so.

With a hack, slash and some magic thrown into the fray, the two clowns die a painful death, and the party obtain the Treasure Sword. Now to sell take it back to the King in Parcelyte. Selan threw me a dirty look when I suggested selling it, and I don't want to mess with her.

So, the party return with the blade, hoping that Selan won't take all the credit, and that she won't leave the party as her figure strikes a pose upon the battle field when the wind blows the drapes of her dress over her head... >_>;


(By the way... why does Selan's leg look munged up in the artwork posted in this blog post? Well, it's something I can not answer. Obviously the artist did study anatomy... >_>; Maybe I'll try a better version for my next post? Look out for it! ;D )