I meant to post this a while ago, but classes have kind of been kicking my ass lately. But never mind that, let's get to the fun stuff.
Heroes who pass out in the snow inevitably wake up in warm, cozy beds, often with cute girls nursing them back to health.
It's all but impossible to tell from these screenshots, but you can actually see the snow falling outside the window. :O DETAILS!
And there's the cute gir-oh wait. :?
"Kid" LOL. Our hero.
Yeah, I don't know either.
Our hero is polite! Aww.
Is it just me, or does the way he says this make it sound like he's mildly embarrassed by his own cliche? I'm sure it sounded kickass in his head, but now that he's staring a Grown-Up in the face and actually saying it, he's realizing that holy shit, he is a dork.
Besides being unconscious hurrr
I'm still a bit vague on this "flying dragon" and why it has, you know, hallways and stairs and shit but is externally made to look like an elaborately designed, presumably decorative dragon. Does anyone other than Lady Gaga have that kind of time and money?
This is, of course, assuming that it's manmade and not some bizarrely convenient creature that was born that way. (It's been a long time since I've played ToD, so I honestly forget whether or not this is discussed later on. :P)
...as you might have noticed.
Garr: :O :O :O
Stahn: Yup, everybody died herp a derp
Excellent communication skills, Stahn.
But somehow Garr understands. :?
Garr seems to have realized that Stahn will need someone to hold his hand and walk him through everything slowly.
Stahn: DERP?? HELP ME FIND IT
Stahn: No, I got it, never mind. Man, the puzzles in this game are intense.
Stahn: Derp?
Stahn: DERP!!
Well, it kind of already has...
Oh god he is so clueless
:O There are intelligent humans in this game!
Dymlos: *Silent treatment*
Stahn: :D DYMLOS I MADE A FRIEND :D
Dymlos: *SILENT. TREATMENT.*
Stahn: :D?
Dymlos: *SILENT GODDAMN TREATMENT WHY ARE YOU THE HERO*
Stahn: :( are we still friends tho
Gasp! Mystery voice!
I have never been entirely sure why anyone thought Alba looks like a man, what with the ponytail and the coat-which-might-be-a-dress and all. He has a familiar color scheme, though.
Stahn: Er, as far as I know. Who did the actual saving here?
~~MYSTERIOUS FEMALE~~
Garr: What, again? Why should I have to sure I'll do it.
Less mysterious now. Okay then.
Stahn: OOH, OOH! CAN I COME? CAN I CAN I CAN I
Garr: *Logic*
Stahn: PFF WHAT LOGIC LET'S GO
Alba: HE'S FINE JUST GO ALREADY
Stahn: :O
Garr: No, I saw it on your collar when I was checking to see if you'd had all your shots.
Alba: ICE BURN.
There was an actual laughing animation, but I missed it.
But first, time to ROB MY SAVIORS BLIND.
Alba: Uh, the door isn't back there.
That goes to Stahn, of course.
Garr uses a bow, but he was already equipped with one. :?
How did Stahn know that? Anyway, TAKE THE TEDDY BEAR, maybe monsters will attack it instead of me.
He didn't listen to me. The bear is still sitting there. >:(
But is it a drawing or a painting?
THAT IS NOT NECESSARY. Also I just noticed that this screencap strikes an odd comparison with the one before it.
The other painting is also by Chelsea, but it made for two boring screencaps.
ePSXe had some issues with the falling snow. I had to fight with the plugins to get the game to run properly. Still, DETAILS. I approve.
Here's our first save point, which I used as an opportunity to cast a magical spell I learned from
lushris and a couple anonymice.
First I saved...
Then I mumbled a few magical words...
Then I loaded my save file, and...
BAM! BAMF!
Lilith (which is actually her name, not Lilis as it was translated here) is Stahn's badass sister who battles with cooking utensils, such as the ladle you can see in her status pic.
Here's Garr's status page, by the way.
And here's Stahn's, because it didn't occur to me to put this in the last entry.
Battle lineup. In hindsight this screencap serves no actual purpose. Oh well! :D
I don't know why I looked in the well, except that I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING.
Shut up, Garr! You're not the hero!
I got Cloak. Hi, Cloak!
It goes to Lilith because SHE DESERVES IT.
And then I get to fight bunnies. Didn't I just fight my way through a shitload of monsters on a flying dragon-thing, and now I get to fight little bunny rabbits? Is the game making fun of me?
Whatever, I found the ~~~MYSTERIOUS FEMALE~~~
Oh fuck it's pink and tiny
Garr: He's dying, in fact. Just get back home.
Stahn: :? Really?
OH GOD, WE MUST HURRY
Is it? :/
And then she runs in circles.
For a while.
Stahn: :? Really?
Garr: Just shut up and let me talk.
They're invisible.
Chelsea: And then I just felt like standing here and staring at the trees for a while, and that's when you showed up.
Yup, pretty much.
Yup, pretty much.
I imagine Garr saying this in a deadpan voice while Stahn tries to hide his embarrassment.
What is this pink thing doing
Stahn: Uh haha derp hi
Chelsea: NOBODY UNDERSTANDS MEEEE *listens to Evanescence*
Garr has no patience for teenage angst. Me neither, Garr. Me neither.
...There must have been a better way to translate whatever this was in Japanese.
Garr: ...if you're done whining.
And here's the pink thing. Yes, she fights. Notice the shitty stats, however.
I gave her the bow since I stole it from her grandfather and all.
VICTORY
Actually, the real reason I took this screencap was to show you that I got Chicken, which is a good opportunity to introduce the food system in ToD.
Go to the inventory, select food.
See this, hit yes.
Food is now in food sack.
This is a precursor to the cooking features in later Tales games. It's pretty simple; if your food sack is full, then your HP will fill up while you walk, although certain foods have adverse effects (like poisoning your characters if the food has gone bad). I don't think leaving the food sack empty has any effect, but I could be wrong about that. It's not as interesting as the recipes that you get in later Tales games, but it's a fun little addition.
Anyway, Alba's getting impatient about those pants.
...he says in case Alba thinks Garr has been playing in the snow.
Chelsea has NO TIME FOR PLEASANTRIES. I like how that "Book of Ladies' Manners" is only used on people she doesn't know.
The logic behind this interjection, I suppose, is WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE ME COME HOME EARLIER SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO FIX YOUR PANTS AT NIGHT. Or something like that.
Garr: Please just stfu ffs
Chelsea: BUT I WUV U
And then she goes right back to playing house.
Alba's life is so tragic. :'(
I honestly kind of pity Alba for having to take care of the pink thing.
Alba just LOLs while Stahn is just so confused.
I HAVE TO CAPTURE THE EMOTE BUBBLES OKAY.
Garr: *sarcasms*
Alba: Who gives a shit? The pants are getting fixed.
I thought I was doing this to return the favor of, you know, saving Stahn's life, but whatever, you should totally reward me.
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, JERK.
Haha, Alba knows what's up.
Stahn: *Nervous for no reason* Do I get a badge or something? :D
That's not very interesting, but thanks I guess.
Uh, maybe I should've taken some screenshots of them walking so this didn't seem so abrupt? IDK.
Gibberish in the kingdom of Yaddayadda?
I have to go through Blah to get to Gibberish in Yaddayadda?
See, I'm not a moron. He doesn't know either. (Oh God why am I comparing my intelligence to Stahn's? D:)
Ohh, it's between Yaddayadda and Jibberjabber, got it.
That would probably be helpful.
Alba: Don't leave me with the pink thing D':
Alba: Damn it, Garr, you selfish bitch
Oh Christ...
WHO SAYS THAT. I MEAN REALLY.
Chelsea: Chelsea will talk in third person until you get back! (I am so fucking kawaii OMG <3)
What about referring to yourself in third person comes off as serious?
Stahn: I WILL TREASURE THE MELANGE GEL FOR FOREVER.
Garr: Yeah whatever just move it
Stahn: k herp-a-derp :D
I don't know why I felt the need to talk to her again except that I MUST TALK TO EVERYONE. EVERYONE.
EVERYONE.
Now I get to go down here.
BUT I CAN'T LEAVE IT BEHIND D:
Usually I'd use a Green Gel on somebody and then pick up this one, but everyone was at full health. How the hell did I get 15 Green Gels already?
At least there are better things to fight than bunnies.
I want you to be aware of my treasure-collecting skillz. Just go with it.
And here we are in the first town, where I will talk to EVERYONE. EVERYONE. EVERYONE.
When the game lets me, anyway.
And just as mysteriously as he came, he vanished. :O
Or, well, he did walk away, but he must have walked pretty quickly, because he's already out of town.
Dymlos: NOT TALKING IS PAINFUL
SILVER HAIRED BISHOUNEN = EVIL
Stahn: But derp :D
Stahn: *Not getting it*
Dymlos: *Not going to explain*
Haha, he's so excited, it's adorable.
Oh, Stahn, you are so predictably cute.
You know, by talking to inanimate objects or something.
Stahn: DON'T TELL ME TO THINK! IT FREAKS ME OUT, MAN!
Stahn: Well, uh...derp...?
Dymlos doesn't actually wait for an answer, anyway.
NPCs are so helpful.
Okay then.
That's pretty much my exact reaction to snow. <3
Well then he'd probably not from around here, you derpy child.
I figured that this would be the most informative answer, but DON'T WORRY, I HAVE THE REACTIONS TO EVERY ANSWER.
That's a silly-sounding name. I think I liked Martel better.
Organized religion in Tales games typically means trouble for the heroes.
That doesn't sound promising, either.
Now for the other answers!
My religion is normal! IT'S THE OTHERS THAT ARE THE OTHER.
Okay then.
No wai
Somebody explained Yaddayadda and Jibberjabber! :O
...Not that there's any chance of that happening.
Are you taunting me?
Does it also tell you that I'm the goddamn main character?
Also you don't need to understand Lens yet. We'll get there.
That's a shame. :P
This is maybe supposed to be a snow bunny or something...? Actually, I have no idea, but it made adorable squeaking noises, so I took a screencap.
DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
That's right, I have OPTIONS, damn it.
:| No thank you, creeper.
...Why the hell are you in that cat costume?
I HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD Thanks for the tip, but I can't change my clothes. I can only change my armor. :|
There must have been a loud crash or something when that thing landed, right? They should have some idea of what happened to the dragon by now.
Considering the "Wahooo," I'm guessing that condition green = drunk.
Stahn doesn't get it, though.
Stahn: :O FIRE REALLY IS HOT OMG
Actually, there are a lot of really unnecessary explanations for items.
Stahn: POT :D
Stahn: BARREL :D
Stahn: TOOLS :D
Stahn: WOOD :D I KNOW WORDS :D
WTF, do they really sell Lemon Gels this early on? :O (Lemon Gels are Green Gels, only better.)
Spoiler: THEY DON'T. Asshole NPC isn't gonna get what he wants.
I have also never been offered a receipt, but maybe that's because I haven't unlocked the filing-taxes minigame.
And then I guess I bought stuff, but I didn't think to take a screenshot. :P Maybe next time.
I don't know what "it" is, but I'm sure I will.
I WANT LEMON GELS >:(
Stahn: Books? :(
There's an awkward sentence. Do they speak English in Seinegald?
Watch it, man, NPCs who say shit like that are NPCs who end up dead.
No, I'm just browsing. :P
Yeah, I probably will.
Go around the back and there's a CRAZY DOG
I like Stahn's surprised!face here.
I think the dog is kept there as a passive-aggressive way of saying COME TO THE FRONT DESK, BITCH.
WHAT THE HELL KIND OF RPG HERO ARE YOU
Sucks to be you.
But they are! They're acting like drunken adults.
I wonder if that's a PLOT POINT. :O
SEPHIROTH!
Creepy frigging kids...
LOST PASSPORT. I'M ON IT.
Shut up already, I get it.
I GET IT.
That's kind of a cute tavern name.
Haha, Stahn, you are a dork.
This guy didn't even make it to the "witch-ay woman" bit before he passed out. Tragic.
That waitress, by the way, is impossible to talk to. There is no way to get around/between the drunk on the floor and the chair behind them.
Geez, don't have a stroke.
Poor bastard had no idea what he was in for when he sat down.
CRIMINALS CAN GO FUCK THEMSELVES. WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO BE OUTSIDE ANYWAY.
HMM
Man, you hate your job like fire, don't you?
Uh, no.
Good to know.
Hey, that's not nice...
NEVERMIND, ROCK ON.
I COULDN'T MISS THE EMOTE BUBBLE. YOU WOULDN'T GET THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE IF I SKIPPED IT.
Oh God I love these guys so much.
Sure, hon, whatever you say.
I COULDN'T MISS IT
YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE "OOOOH" WITHOUT THE HEART.
...Do you do this often?
Uh, no thank you, creeper.
Haha, I like how even John and THE BOSS are surprised by this.
Stahn blushes, but I missed John and Grid's "..." emote bubbles. I'M SORRY THEY WERE TOO FAST FOR ME
THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE DARK BLACK WINGS, HELL YEAH
I love them but know that they're dumbasses.
Also I love seeing this reaction. :P
Prior to this speech of yours, I didn't.
I suspect that Stahn is already starting to drift off.
...Right.
Hey, isn't that approximately what the monsters in the last entry were saying? JOHN, YOU ATTACKED THE FLYING DRAGON, DIDN'T YOU?!
Hahaha
Uh, Grid, I'm not sure that John could even pronounce "omnipotent."
I HAD TO CATCH THE EMOTE BUBBLES, I CAN'T HELP IT
I'll try to stop doing that.
Why is "peons" plural? Can he sense Lilith's presence?! :O
Oh, John. You do not have many INT points, do you?
:? How do you figure?
I HAD TO CATCH THE EMOTE BUBBLE
AND I HAD TO TALK TO HIM AGAIN
Anyway, moving on...
Stahn: Derp?
It's not like we've had THE WHOLE TOWN telling us we'd need a passport.
Well, that was easy.
But Stahn's THE HERO, after all.
Why are you so damn nice, you pain in the ass
CHEAPSKATE
He agrees with me.
Stahn: LOLNO
Aren't illegal aliens also criminals, by virtue of the "illegal" part? Also you're an ungrateful jerk. :P
He doesn't believe me. Jerk.
I SAVED YOUR DAD'S ASS, KID. DON'T WHINE AT ME.
Ingratitude runs in the family, I guess.
He usually doesn't.
Stahn actually has a point, surprisingly.
You weren't saying that in Alba's house.
Stahn: YOU'RE WRONG SO THERE
Don't worry, he will.
I didn't catch any screencaps of Stahn running into the red thing.
Okay, why don't you just spill your guts without an invitation, then.
Of course there are ruins.
Stahn: *Heroes*
Mary is actually AWESOME.
But they're facing opposite directions. Whose right? :/
Stahn: NOPE NOT AT ALL
...And that's it for this episode. Expect to see more of Stahn, Mary, and her mysterious friend soon, but in the meantime, I have a few pieces of art to share.
The page before this in the artbook is Garr's design in ToD2, which is kind of irrelevant.
I don't know what this is the cover for. :P