Let's Play The Spirit Engine 2
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Chapter 1: Lights in the Forest
Part 1: Strangers
Perhaps it is for the best. These wretched feet are aching again. Such useless things. I should never have tried to walk this distance. I should have just stolen the money that I needed for the midnight stagecoach.
There's something lying on the road ahead. It's hard to see in this light, but it looks like a person. A drunken vagrant, perhaps? Or a bandit.
Hellow? Who is that? What do you think you're doing down there? Come on, get up and say something? Is this some sort of quaint game you're playing? I shan't be made a fool of.
P-Please. Help me...
So beautiful, and yet so sad. I...
You must forgive me, this is my first death. It's hard for me. I'm surprised you're still breathing, and curious. What happened here? Who did this to you?
T-They found us. Three of them. We ran, but... oh God. The children! I tried to hold them off, but they were too fast. Please, I beg you. You have to... have to...
What? Speak up, you idiot! You're gurgling. I have enough difficulty with your accent as it is.
...
He lies so silent now, his eyes vacant. So softly did he leave that I missed the moment of his passing. Is this what awaits me? To drown alone in black oblivion, leaving nothing but a cold and empty shell?
Oh, why did this misfortune have to cross my path? I dislike this feeling intensely, and something is wrong with my eyes. I can't see properly.
I wonder what the local custom for disposing of the deceased is - burial or burning?
Never mind, I have no intention of dirtying my hands with either. You've already made enough of a mess of me. Damn you for this inconvenience! You could at least have had the courtesy to die in the ditch out of sight.
What am I to do with you now? It seems... wrong... to leave you here alone at the mercy of the woods.
I can see lamp-lights in the distance. A local dwelling, perhaps? Very well, I will find assistance there and have them deal with you.
Just the two children. They fled east along the road, and the masked men pursued them. Such an awful spectacle! they've only been traveling with us for a few weeks, but they seemed such kind and gentle folk.
He was their father?
I don't think so. A guardian, perhaps. They didn't speak much about themselves. In fact, they didn't speak much at all.
It all happened so fast and there was nothing we could do to protect them. The men have broken open the weapons chest and gone out into the woods with a search party, but I fear they will find only the worst.
We are a peaceful, simple community, ill-equipped to defend ourselves.
Hello? I think I may have found your man. His body lies some two hundred feet back down the road. Alone, though. I saw no sign of any others.
Then there is still hope! We three should get out there immediately and join the search.
Hold on, now, you can't be thinking of including me in this madness! I just delivered you news of this man's fate, I have no desire to share it. The children are most likely dead already.
What's wrong with you?! These people are worried enough as it is. They don't need to hear talk like that. We have no idea what the children's fate is, but it will most certainly be grim if we don't go after them now.
We can't delay any longer. There are three assassins, two children and we have already wasted precious time. I will search the woods south of the road, you two take the north.
I'm frightened, mommy. Are Isabelle and Elai going to die?
No, of course not, sweetie. These brave heroes are going to go out into the forest and save them.
Aren't you?
Alright. I'm sorry, I didn't intend to upset anybody. If it is expected of me to engage in this lunacy, then I shall. But don't expect me to offer anything more than another set of eyes to peer uselessly into this darkness.
Thank you. Please be careful out there! There is another stranger searching north of the road, an old Guardsman who was staying the night at the village inn. You may be able to help each other.
Alright. It's dark, and it wouldn't hurt to stop and get our bearings. I'm glad to have company out here! For a moment back there, I actually thought you were going to refuse to help.
I was. I don't see why I should have to place myself in serious danger for two strangers. Something odd compelled me to say yes.
For some reason, the fact that the villagers would think ill of my declination upsets me. It's so frustrating. I should never have followed you out here! Aren't you frightened yourself?
Frightened? I would be lying if I said I wasn't. But there are as many negative as positive emotions that a man may know in a lifetime and I must experience them all.
I should introduce myself. My name is PyanPau. You are...?
Ionae.
I'm pleased to meet you, Ionae. I knew that you were an oddity from the moment I saw you. Did you know that you have no aura?
No. I can't say that I've missed it. Am I supposed to have one?
All living things should. Some faint, some bright but ever present. You have none. It is most peculiar. I have never met anybody like that before.
Well, I haven't met any men who can see auras before, but I have met crazy people. Maybe you're one of them, and I shouldn't be out here alone with you.
Hah! You're not Lereftese either, my friend, I can sense it. We are both strangers here. What do you think the chances of two such outcasts finding each other in a country as large as lereftain really are?
I don't know. Quite low, I would imagine.
Exactly. So small that this cannot be anything other than destiny. Our meeting was written in the stars. All that remains is to see where this night takes us.
That's it. I'm keeping an eye on you. Stay out in front and keep moving.
And finally, gameplay!
Game areas are all side-scrolling, making it pretty linear, for the most part. Top left is the menu (currently disabled) and the bottom left is character mental/physical condition (healthy).
We can walk or run, but for now, that's about all we can do! INTO THE WOODS
And shortly, this leads us into our first BATTLE
TSE2's combat system is pretty complicated, actually! I won't introduce all the mechanics at once, so for now, let's go with the stuff immediately surrounding a character.
From top to bottom:
Health: Exactly what it says on the tin. If it runs out, you go down.
Chi: Sort of an energy barrier. Certain types of attacks attacks damage chi instead of health if you have any, making PyanPau much more powerful against enemies who do the right kinds of damage.
PyanPau: PyanPau.
Damage Multiplier: Will get to this later.
Action Bar: Slowly fills up over time, indicates readiness to act. You can act as long as it's at least half full.
Sort of like FFXIII, characters generally fight on their own. For this fight, I'm fairly safe just letting my party do its own thing.
Numbers above health are inflicted damage. The "!" indicates a critical hit.
One down! See that "R: 24" under them? That's how long I have until they get back up.
Being KO'd is not a permanent condition in this game. After a few seconds, usually about 20-25, you'll get back up, although usually with not much health.
Of course, it won't be a problem here. I'm not even convinced that these things can fight back.
Battle over! That wasn't too hard.
Let's move forward.
Note in the bottom left corner: PyanPau's icon is glowing! This usually means they have something to say - either some tactical advice for the area, or some Tales-style side conversation.
Is it about the wings?
Well...
It's about the wings, isn't it?
It's rather hard to ignore them. You try to hide them under that cloak, but they're too large to conceal.
Alright then. Yes, I've always had them. No, I can't fly with them. Yes, they do moult. Yes, it does hurt if people tug on them, so please don't.
They are a reminder of... times past. You can imagine why I choose to hide them. People get some strange ideas when they see them. I doubt that you are any different.
There is nothing more that I care to say about them.
I'm sorry, Ionae. I won't bring the subject up again.
Those children aren't getting any safer! Keep moving, folks.
You must be the man from the village whom the mayor mentioned. It's good to see you! I am PyanPau Sai, this is Ionae.
I was hopeing we could find someone a little more capable of handling themselves in a fight. Someone not quite so old.
Fear not, young lady, there's plenty of fight left in me. Even one as critical as yourself should find a Guardsman's sword a welcome ally, regardless of the age of the arm that wields it.
What did you need help with, sir? Has your search met with any success?
Yes, I've found one of the children. She's stumbled into the grasp of a large creature dwelling in the old fountain here. It hasn't harmed her yet, thank God.
I've spoken with the girl at a distance and tried to reassure her, but I don't know how long I have before it decides to make a meal of her. She's understandably quite frightened.
The beast has already mauled one of our mysterious assassins and left him for dead. I was about to run back to the village for help when I heard you approach through the undergrowth.
It will take all three of us to drive back the creature and free her. Follow me, we don't have much time.
BOSS BATTLE
Chokeblossom
Time to get into some more mechanics!
Enemy stats!
Let's give it a rundown.
From top to bottom:
Name: Name. I'm not sure what (12) indicates, I'll let you know if I remember.
Traits: Certain attacks have differing levels of usefulness against different types of enemies. This is a LARGE creature.
Health and Chi: Same as for me.
Dodge: Flat chance to evade every attack I land on it.
Piercing/Concussive/Magickal/Ethereal: The creature's defense against the four types of damage - first a flat reduction, then a percentage of resistance. In reality, there are five kinds of damage, but nothing can reduce Absolute damage.
Now for some basic attacks!
There is a notable effect of the side-view battle engine - we're in a distinct order. The cokeblossom attacks with thrown rocks, that hit in a low enough arc that they always hit the person in front.
This means that Denever is taking a lot of damage. How can we react?
By changing the party order!
Now PyanPau can take hits in Denever's place.
Just because Denever is a knight doesn't mean that all he can do is hit stuff! He is here using his Swordfaith technique to rain down some magic damage on the enemy.
Because the attack Pyanpau's using is melee, he runs the risk of taking hits even when he's not in front - if he's out attacking when the Chokeblossom throws its rock, he'll get hit instead of the party leader.
Anyway, despite being a boss, this thing is kind of a sissy.
The girl is saved!
Y-Yes I'm Isabelle. H-Hello, mister! How do you do?
I'm just doing fine, thank you miss. But we're more worried about you. Are you hurt?
I-I think i'm ok. Just scared. Is the monster gone?
I've no idea. The well is deep and dark, and I can't see far down it. We hurt it, though; there's ichor dripping down the walls.
Ardal said we were safe from the monsters so long as he was with us. The men in the masks, they wouldn't stop stabbing him, and Elai and I ran away. Where is Ardal?
I'm so sorry, Isabelle. He must have fought bravely, but he was found dead. There wasn't anything that could be done.
He told us to leave him, but we didn't want to. And now he's... he's...
We should probably move along. I can't tell whether this thing is dead or not, but I don't think we should be here if it comes back.
Isabelle, where is your brother? Did he come this way, too?
I don't know. Elai and I were running together and then I tripped and... and...
It's going to be alright, Isabelle. You're in safe hands now. We're not going to let anything happen to you. Stay behind us and we'll go and find him together.
The statue is of Aria, angel of the East. Most likely two, maybe three hundred years old. It's a shame to see it so neglected.
Why was this stone effigy of her carved? I thought there were no people born here with wings.
There aren't, present company excluded. In the Good Book she is a messenger from God, sent to watch over and protect the people of Eastern Medea, Lereftain, included.
You were thinking that perhaps you shared some common ancestry?
Hah! Hahahaha! Oh, the laughter does feel good...
...
And that's enough for this entry!
Next time: Saving Elai!
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