(The next morning, Gremio rushes to Tir's room, where he and Cleo are waiting.) Gremio: Good morning, Young Master. Did you sleep well? It's not much of a place, but home is where the heart is. When you're ready, let's go to Master Mathiu's place. We must consult him regarding this fellow Lepant. (Gremio joins party.) *****NPCs***** (If you try to go downstairs...) Gremio: Y-young M-master, that's not the way to Master Mathiu's room. *****PLOT***** Mathiu: Good morning, Commander Tir. Did you get a good night's sleep? Let's get right down to business. Lepant us in the township of Kouan. He is a man who honors friendship. If you tell him that you come with my introduction, he's sure to join up with you. (Viktor and Cleo approach.) Viktor: Hey Tir, you're taking me along, of course. Right? Cleo: Master Tir, I'll come along too. (They join the party.) Mathiu: Who else will you take, Commander Tir? (You choose the other two members of your party.) *****RECRUITS***** (First, a little recruiting in Kaku.) Sergei: Listen to me, I happen to be an inventor. After much hard work, I came up with an amazing invention, something that would impress even the dwarves. But none of the castle keepers understand what a wonderful invention it is. What is it, you ask? It's called an "elevator." Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /---- Tir: Recruit Sergei: What, you? You're the leader of the Liberation Army? Of course, of course I'll help you! A liberating invention needs a liberated world. [Sergei joins!] ----- Tir: Don't recruit Sergei: Don't you understand how useful this thing is? You won't have to go up and down and up and down those staircases. /----- *****NPCs***** Man: That castle on Toran is now called Toran Castle, and it's the headquarters of the Liberation Army. Pretty cool name, eh? Old Man: Now that the fog's lifted, we can fish in peace. Man by docks: That Tai Ho's got guts. *****RECRUITS***** (Recruiting in Seika. In the inn...) Marie: Really? You own a castle now? Then let me join you. Of course I'm not a warrior, but I can give your soldiers a bowl of soup when they're tired. Please, Tir. Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit Marie: Good. Then let me prepare to move. [Marie joins!] ----- Tir: Don't recruit Marie: I see, too bad. If you change your mind, let me know. /----- (Inside a house...) Onil: Say you! I'm talking to you. You're the new leader of the Liberation Army, right? Old Onil here knows everything. I also know that the Liberation Army is short of people. Maybe I should give you a hand. Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit Onil: Great. Let's be off to Toran Castle. Of course I know where it is. [Onil joins!] ----- Tir: Don't recruit Onil: I understand. Well, maybe someday you'll change your mind. /----- *****NPCs***** (In the inn...) Antonio: My life's devoted to cooking, but I don't have my own restaurant yet. I wish there was a place where I'd really be of use. Woman: You're the leader of the Liberation Army? You are lying, aren't you? (In Mathiu's house...) Girl: I wish Master Mathiu would come back. I want to marry him! Boy: Maaaster Mathiuuu. I finished my homework - so please come back. Boy: I wish Master Mathiu would come back. Maybe he'll return if I finihs my homework. (Outside...) Woman: Where could Master Mathiu have gone? He was such a good teacher. My kid misses him. *****RECRUITS***** (At Kwaba...) Chandler: Howdy, I'm Chandler. Just an idle peddler. Liberation Army? Sounds like fun! OK, leave it to me. I've got medicine, serum, anything you need. Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit [Chandler joins] Chandler: OK, let's go have a look at this castle of yours. ----- Tir: Don't recruit Chandler: Tsk, tsk. Too bad. I'm pretty useful, you know. *****NPCs***** (Back at Toran Castle, in a shack at the docks...) Tai Ho: I feel like wandering off somewhere. Yam Koo: What to do about Brother Tai Ho's whims? (In the basement...) Sergei: Welcome, welcome, take a look at this. Isn't it wonderful? (On the first floor...) Onil: I've heard that the protector of Shazarazade, whose name is Sonya, is very beautiful. Do you suppose she's better looking than me? Camille: When do you plan on paying me what you owe? Marie: You must be tired. Get plenty of rest. (Stay at her inn or save) Chandler: Welcome to the hardware store. I always wanted to say that. (Buy/Sell items) (On the second floor...) Cleo: Master Tir is thinking about Teo. Luc: What do you want? (You can view the tablets.) Mathiu: Change party members? Tir: *Change *No change (Change party members) *****PLOT***** (The party heads south from Kaku, until they reach...) [Kouan] *****NPCs***** Man by gates: This here town of Kouan survives thanks to Master Lepant. Yet that new military commander... (At a house up the hill, two Imperial guards stand watch.) Guard: Don't go in there! The commander will be furious. (Inside house...) Woman: If you cross the Imperials, there's no telling what they'll do. That new commander seems pretty mean, too. Man: Lately Master Lepant has been keeping to himself, and refuses to see anyone. (In the inn...) Lorelai: Who are you? Hmmm... The Liberation Army, eh? Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit Lorelai: Gee, I dunno. ummm... (She looks Tir over.) Lorelai: Forget it. I don't hang around with weaklings. ----- Tir: Don't recruit Lorelai: What is it? What else do you want? /----- Krin: Going to Lepant's mansion? Hee hee, forget it. You're wasting your time. I won't stop you from going, of course, so go ahead. I have a better idea, though... hee hee. *****PLOT***** (At Lepant's house...) Giovanni: I'm sorry, but my master Lepant is very busy and cannot see you. Viktor: When will he be free? Giovanni: I don't know. Tomorrow, perhaps, or the day after, or in a month, or even a year. (Going back to the inn, they talk to Krin again.) Krin: You went to Lepant's mansion? Hee hee! You guys would never get in, even if you spent years in front of his house. I have a much better plan. Care to hear me out? You'll get to meet Lepant. Tir: *Tell me what you have in mind. *I can't trust you. /----- Tir: I can't trust you. Krin: Then go ahead and waste your life away, stupid. (Talk to him again...) Krin: Are you ready to hear me out now? /----- Tir: Tell me what you have in mind. Krin: Good. But this is not the place. Let's go to the inn. (A bit later, they're in a room.) Viktor: Let's hear what you have to say. Krin: Don't rush me now. Do you know why Lepant won't see anyone? Gremio: Why? Krin: He doesn't want to get involved with guys like you who defy the Empire. That's why he refuses visitors. Cleo: But why? That's not like what Mathiu told us about him. Krin: I don't know anything about that. Anyway, let's get down to details Lepant treasures two things above all else. One is his wife Eileen. The other is the great sword Kirinji. Gremio: So... Krin: So if you steal Kirinji, Lepant will most certainly come after you. Then, after you face him, you can talk to him, or blackmail him, or whatever you like. Understand? Viktor: I see. So how do we steal Kirinji? Krin: Hee hee. Just leave that to me. Wait here a while, then come on over to Lepant's house. I'll see you later, hee hee. (He leaves.) Gremio: Are we pretending to be thieves now? How pathetic! Viktor: Who's pretending? We are thieves. (Later...) Cleo: It's about time we got going. (They leave the inn, and find Krin beside Lepant's house.) Krin: Here you are. Wait just a moment. (He tosses a rope over the limb of a tree overhanging the wall around the house.) Krin: There. Now you can go in. Viktor: Aren't you coming? Krin: My job is done. Now it's your turn. I'll be waiting here. (They climb the rope and go onto the roof, where they find a ladder leading into the interior of the house, where they are attacked by numerous strange robots and mechanical contraptions.) *****NPCs***** (If you go back out...) Krin: How was it? No good? Ha! You're an amateur. All right, let's leave this time. (You go back to the inn, and can go and do stuff in town. When you talk to Krin again...) Krin: This time, don't fail. (Same dialogue as before by the tree.) *****RECRUIT***** (In the storeroom...) Rock: Hi there! Me? As you see, I'm just a warehouse guard. Are you people from the Liberation Army? I see. Mind if I ask you something? Is the Liberation Army's vault big? What, you don't have one yet? But, do you plan to build a big one? I see, I see. Master Tir, I was hoping to join the Liberation Army for quite some time. Please let me join! Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit Rock: Th-thank you so much. L-let's go and b-build a b-big one. [Rock joins!] ----- Tir: Don't recruit Rock: I s-see. But if you ever have plans to build a big vault, please let me know. /----- (On a lower level, next to a room with a giant "wheel of fortune" device...) Juppo: My god, you scared me. Who are you? Fellow thieves? How do you do. Viktor: Who are you? Juppo: Me? I'm Juppo the Trickster. Who are you? Cleo: Trickster? Did you make this contraption? Juppo: That's right, that's right. Do you like it? Gremio: You must be kidding. Viktor: Hey you, turn that infernal contraction off, right now. Juppo: Hmmm, that may be difficult. The dolls I can shut off, but the big one, impossible. So enjoy it, soldiers of the Liberation Army. (He leaves.) *****PLOT***** (Passing the rather annoying machine, they come to a room with only a sword placed on a stand.) Cleo: This must be Kirinji. A remarkable piece of work. [Obtained the Great Sword Kirinji] Gremio: Cleo, let's get going. Viktor: Don't be such a chicken, Gremio. Gremio: We can't have the McDohl scion getting captured as a common thief. (They head back out, over the roof, and down to find Krin waiting.) Krin: You're late, you're late. Did you get it? Good work. Let's go back to the inn. (Back in the room at the inn...) Krin: You did very well I snuck in there once myself, but some kind of weird doll appeared, and I ran off without taking anything. Gremio: You knew, yet you still made me go? Krin: No harm done, hee hee. Anyway... (He heads out to the tavern portion of the inn.) Krin: You must be tired. How about some tea? Cleo: Tea? Gremio: Tea? Viktor: Did you say tea? (Krin returns to the room.) Krin: Come, come, take a break. Viktor: Krin. Krin: What is it? Hee hee. Viktor: You go ahead and drink it first. (Krin jumps.) Krin: Oh, no, you go ahead. I didn't work, and I'm not tired, hee hee. Viktor: That figures. Think we're stupid enough to fall for such an old trick? Cleo: You did, once before. (A bit later, Krin is lying in bed.) Cleo: What a scoundrel. (From outside...) Lepant: Come out, you thieves! Or you'll be sorry! (Lepant barges into the inn.) Cleo: That was quick. He's found us already. Krin: Heh heh. I told him where you were. So you'd get captured in your sleep. Viktor: Let's go. (They go into the inn's main room to face Lepant.) Lepant: Are you the one who stole Kirinji, my family's treasure? Return it immediately, or I'll... Tir: *......... *Um, Mathiu recommended you. /----- Tir: ......... Lepant: You thieves! Too frightened to say anything? Gremio: What's the matter, Young Master. Let's tell him the truth. Cleo: Master Tir, have you forgotten what Mathiu said? He's Lepant. Probably. ----- Tir: Um, Mathiu recommended you. /----- Lepant: What? Mathiu... If Mathiu is involved, I'd like to help you. But there are certain things I cannot give up. So please return Kirinji and be on your way. Tir: *We need your help. *I understand. We'll return your sword. /----- Tir: We need your help. Lepant: I'm sorry, but when I think about how my wife will miss me, I can't. Tir: We need your help. Lepant: If my life belonged to myself alone, I would gladly help you. But such is not the case. Tir: We need your help. Lepant: I'm sorry. I can't give up this life right now. For my wife's sake. /----- Tir: I understand. We'll return your sword. Lepant: Thank you. I'll be on my way, then. (From outside...) Giovanni: Master! (Lepant turns to him as he rushes in the door.) Lepant: What's the matter, Giovanni? Giovanni: Madam... Madam... Lepant: What about Eileen? Giovanni: The new Military Commander took her away. I tried to stop him. But... Lepant: What! (He rushes out of the inn.) *****NPCs***** Giovanni: Master Lepant, what shall we do? *****PLOT***** (They follow Lepant, and find him in front of the Military Commander's house.) Lepant: For what reason did you arrest my wife? Let me see this new commander of yours! Guard: You cannot see Commander Kraze without an appointment. Lepant: What! (He bashes his way past the guards and goes inside. The party follows. Inside, Lepant is facing off with more guards.) Guard: Who the hell are you? Are you aware that this is the Kraze residence, you dog?! Lepant: Shut up, you common criminal! (He bashes his way past them too, and heads to an inner room, where he is faced by many guards. He turns to Tir as the party follows him in.) Lepant: This is quite a large number of opponents, even for me. Hm? Hey you there! You've come just in time. Lend me a hand. [Lepant will join party. Reduce party membership by one.] (After you do so...) [Lepant joins party!] (The guards attack, and are easily dispatched. The party heads upstairs, and find Kraze in one of the rooms, with Eileen behind him.) Kraze: You again, Tir! Thanks to you, I've been reassigned to this miserable country town. How dare you get in the way of my promotion! And now you're getting in the way of my pleasure! (Lepant steps forward.) Lepant: You're disgusting! Return Eileen immediately! Cleo: I'll never forgive you. (Guards rush in and attack the party. Again, they are easily dealt with. Kraze backs away, towards Eileen.) Lepant: Eileen! Eileen: Lepant! Kraze: That's far enough. Don't come any closer. I wouldn't want to hurt this beautiful lady. Gremio: What a rogue. Rotten to the core. When I think that I was taking orders from this creature. Kraze: Say what you will. I have to protect myself. By the way, let me bring out an old friend of yours. Hey! Come on out! (Everyone turns as Pahn enters.) Cleo: Pahn! Kraze: Heh. Pahn, capture those men. This is your chance to wipe the dirt off of General Teo's name. Gremio: Pahn, you're not really going to do as he says? Pahn: Cleo, Gremio... Young Master... Cleo: Pahn... Pahn: I don't regret the decision I made that day. Even now. Kraze: That's right, Pahn. Pahn: Yet my heart still aches. I-I want to follow my heart. Whether my heart is right or wrong will be judged by history. Kraze: Pahn, what are you talking about? Pahn: You're a pig in human skin! Take this! (Pahn rushes forward and pushes Kraze away from Eileen.) Viktor: You seem to be hated by a lot of people. (Kraze backs away.) Kraze: Now wait a minute, take it easy. Think of what will happen to your father Teo if anything happens to me. Tir: *You're the one person I can't forgive. *Get the hell out of here. /----- Tir: You're the one person I can't forgive. Kraze: You, you d-don't really mean to...h-help. (The room goes dark, and there is the sound of a weapon hitting its mark.) ----- Tir: Get the hell out of here. Gremio: Young Master, why spare him? He killed Ted. (Kraze runs away.) Cleo: Gremio, it's Young Master's decision. He's got a bigger heart than we do. And I'm proud of him. /----- (Shortly afterwards, they're left alone in Kraze's room.) Pahn: Young Master - I mean Commander Tir - please let me join the Liberation Army. I cannot ask to be forgiven, but even so, I would like to be of service to you. Tir: *I can't forgive you. *Pahn, lend us a hand, /----- Tir: I can't forgive you. Pahn: Please, Master. Tir: I can't forgive you. Pahn: It's about Ted, I suppose. I'm sorry. I shouldn't even show my face to you. But even so, I want to join. Tir: I can't forgive you. Pahn: I see. You still can't forgive me. /----- Tir: Pahn, lend us a hand. Pahn: Y-young M-master... Thank you so much. My life is in your hands, Commander Tir. [Pahn joins!] Eileen: Thank you very much. Lepant really wanted to help you for some time. Lepant: Commander Tir, it appears that I, too, am now a fugitive. I pretended to be blind to the Empire's cruelties, just to protect my family. And look where it's gotten me. (He turns to Eileen.) Lepant: Eileen... Eileen: Yes. Lepant: You are no longer my wife. (She steps back in shock.) Eileen: W-why, Lepant? Lepant: I am joining the Liberation Army. I probably won't be able to return. Eileen: ......... You're a cruel man. What do you take me for? Lepant: If you come along, you'll suffer. Eileen: I've been prepared for the worst, ever since I married you. (She steps back to his side as Lepant turns to Tir.) Lepant: Commander Tir, please let me lend the Liberation Army a hand. [Lepant recruited!] Lepant: We need a bit of time to prepare, but we'll join you at Toran Castle very soon. *****NPCs***** Man by gates: Hooray for Lepant. He kicked that Commander Kraze right out. (In house...) Woman: This village never needed a military commander anyway. Man: I heard that Master Lepant joined the Liberation Army. Him too.