Nalbina Fortress
Aerial Gardens
(The next scene begins from the point of view of someone apparently being roused from unconsciousness. Vision is dark and blurry, and the voices are distorted, but we see two armored men looking over "us.")Basch: You, there. Can you hear me?
Vossler: It’s as I feared. They’re slowing us down.
Basch: Do not say that. Not all of us are here for love of battle. He fights to defend his homeland. Your name?
(Finally, "we" speak.)
Reks: Reks, sir. My name is Reks.
Basch: Good. Reks. You bore a few cuts, but you are still whole. Well, can you stand?
(As Basch holds out his hand, vision clears up and the sound becomes perfectly audible again. Back to third person - Basch helps the young man, Reks, up. The setting is a fortress at night; other soldiers are around them, a small unit. A label in the bottom right corner tells us more.)
(Nalbina Fortress – North Ward)
Basch: Think you can fight?
Reks: I’m fine, sir.
Basch: How old are you, Reks?
Reks: Seventeen, sir.
Basch: Young. Family?
Reks: My brother is all I have left, sir. He’s two years younger than I, living in Rabanastre.
Basch: So young. You’re barely old enough to be a man. You shouldn’t be forced to wield a sword.
Reks: No, sir. I want to fight. For my homeland, and for my parents.
Vossler: Time, Basch. Save the discussion for later. We must reach the King before they act, or all our efforts will be in vain.
Basch: I’m aware of the situation.
(Imperial soldiers emerge from around a corner.)
Imperial 1: We found them!
Imperial 2: Over there!
Basch: Vossler, go ahead! I will handle this rabble.
(Vossler gestures to Basch.)
Vossler: Godspeed.
(He then runs off with his detachment. Basch draws his sword and easily cuts through the five or six Imperials that lunge at him. Reks appears to be dazed by the action.)
Basch: Steady, Reks. Keep your wits about you and you’ll make it. (to all) We move!
Basch: You must always be mindful of your surroundings. Use the right stick to look around. It’s a useful way to spot Imperials. Go on, give it a try.
[Move the right analog stick...]
Basch: Use the left stick to move, Reks. Tilt it slightly to walk, and further to run. You can walk, yes? Come, stand before me.
[Tutorial: Use the left analog stick to approach Basch.]
Basch: Do you see the marker above my head? That’s a Talk Icon. You can talk to any character showing one of these. To talk to someone, approach them and press X. Try talking to your friend by the gate.
[Tutorial: Approach the Dalmascan by the gate and press X to talk to him.]
Dalmascan: Life is worth too much to throw away, Reks. Do what you can, but don’t try to be a hero. Save the hero stories for your brother once we’re back in Rabanastre. Just listen to the Captain and we’ll get through this.
Basch: We’ll enter the fortress through this gate. We must go.
[Tutorial: Go to the iron gate.]
Dalmascan: Listen to Captain Basch, Reks. We’re heading in through the gate.
Basch: You can open the Party Menu by pressing triangle. From the Party Menu you can examine your equipment and inventory.
(The pair spots an oncoming Imperial, and the conversation transitions to a battle tutorial.)
That red line is a hostile target line. Take heed – you’re being targeted. When a foe targets you, the line is red. When you target a foe, the line is blue. If you see a red line, look for foes at once. If they are not readily apparent, use the right analog stick to look around. When you’ve found them, press X to open the Battle Menu. Once you’ve selected Attack and targeted a foe, close distance using the left stick. You’ll automatically attack until your foe is defeated. You can change targets or actions at any time. If your HP falls, press X and select Items from the Battle Menu, then use a potion. After using an item, you will automatically resume your previous action. There is no need to input your commands again. You can do it, Reks. Show me!
(The party stops in the middle of the bridge. Basch looks up to the sky.)
Reks: Captain?
(A small aircraft appears in front of the luminous moon, and flies down to the bridge where Basch, Reks, and co. stand.)
[After defeating Air Cutter Remora…]
(Basch finishes the fight by hitting the Air Cutter with a Quickening - using a magickal stream of fire to strike it. Then we hear the operator of the craft radio in to a superior.)
Basch: Vossler. Where are you?
Reks: What if Captain Azelas has fallen?
Basch: Don’t talk such nonsense! Vossler’s laughed in the face of Death far too many times to stop now! Men like him don’t die in places like this. We must make haste to reach the King. We will take him to safety.
Reks: Is His Majesty unharmed?
Basch: He’ll agree to an unconditional surrender. They wouldn’t dare touch him until the wax on his seal is dry.
Reks: But if we arrive after he’s signed the treaty –
Basch: Wait. (he pauses, seeming to think a second) Quickly, Reks!
(They take off running.)
Basch: Ahead we will face many Imperials, but we need not fight them all. Oftimes retreat is the wiser course. Should the need arise, press and hold R2 to run from your foes. There is no shame in fleeing from a battle that serves no purpose.
Basch: This is a save crystal, Reks. You can save your progress by approaching a save crystal and pressing X. Touching one of these crystals will also fully restore your HP and MP. Though you will gradually recover MP as you move about, it can take time. Do not miss this opportunity to refresh yourself and your allies. There is more I would tell you, but we’ve no time. Heed the lessons of the battlefield and you will do well. Come – we must reach His Majesty before it’s too late!
Imperial: Intruders! Don’t let them escape!
Reks: Sir! We have little time! You must go to the king! I’ll handle these!
[Move the right analog stick...]
Basch: Use the left stick to move, Reks. Tilt it slightly to walk, and further to run. You can walk, yes? Come, stand before me.
[Tutorial: Use the left analog stick to approach Basch.]
Basch: Do you see the marker above my head? That’s a Talk Icon. You can talk to any character showing one of these. To talk to someone, approach them and press X. Try talking to your friend by the gate.
[Tutorial: Approach the Dalmascan by the gate and press X to talk to him.]
Dalmascan: Life is worth too much to throw away, Reks. Do what you can, but don’t try to be a hero. Save the hero stories for your brother once we’re back in Rabanastre. Just listen to the Captain and we’ll get through this.
Basch: We’ll enter the fortress through this gate. We must go.
[Tutorial: Go to the iron gate.]
Dalmascan: Listen to Captain Basch, Reks. We’re heading in through the gate.
[Approach the gate as Basch asked...]
Basch: See the marker above your head? That’s called an Action Icon. One of these will appear when you approach a door, a switch, and item, or the like. To learn more about what you’ve found, walk closer and the icon will change. Then press X. Now, try opening the gate.
[Tutorial: Approach the iron gate and press X.]
Basch: It is time. We will drive back any Imperials standing between us and the King. Dalmasca’s future hangs in the balance. Stay focused on the foes before you, Reks. I will watch rearward.
Basch: See the marker above your head? That’s called an Action Icon. One of these will appear when you approach a door, a switch, and item, or the like. To learn more about what you’ve found, walk closer and the icon will change. Then press X. Now, try opening the gate.
[Tutorial: Approach the iron gate and press X.]
Basch: It is time. We will drive back any Imperials standing between us and the King. Dalmasca’s future hangs in the balance. Stay focused on the foes before you, Reks. I will watch rearward.
Inner Ward
(The pair spots an oncoming Imperial, and the conversation transitions to a battle tutorial.)
That red line is a hostile target line. Take heed – you’re being targeted. When a foe targets you, the line is red. When you target a foe, the line is blue. If you see a red line, look for foes at once. If they are not readily apparent, use the right analog stick to look around. When you’ve found them, press X to open the Battle Menu. Once you’ve selected Attack and targeted a foe, close distance using the left stick. You’ll automatically attack until your foe is defeated. You can change targets or actions at any time. If your HP falls, press X and select Items from the Battle Menu, then use a potion. After using an item, you will automatically resume your previous action. There is no need to input your commands again. You can do it, Reks. Show me!
(The party stops in the middle of the bridge. Basch looks up to the sky.)
Reks: Captain?
(A small aircraft appears in front of the luminous moon, and flies down to the bridge where Basch, Reks, and co. stand.)
[After defeating Air Cutter Remora…]
(Basch finishes the fight by hitting the Air Cutter with a Quickening - using a magickal stream of fire to strike it. Then we hear the operator of the craft radio in to a superior.)
Tonberry Pilot: Antlion, this is Tonberry! My engines are hit! She’ll not hold much longer!
Antlion: We receive you, Tonberry. You’ve leave to retire. Well fought.
Tonberry Pilot: My thanks, Antlion. Tonberry disengaging!
(With this, the smoking, short-circuiting Tonberry finally swoops away.)
Basch: There is no simple way through the fortress – the Minimap at the top right of your screen may not be enough to gain your bearings. Should you lose your way, consult your Location Map by pressing the touch pad button. This will bring up the map of the fortress we gave you before we set out. If you still find yourself at a loss, pressing the L3 button will allow you to view the Location Map as you move. Navigate your way through as you see fit.
Antlion: We receive you, Tonberry. You’ve leave to retire. Well fought.
Tonberry Pilot: My thanks, Antlion. Tonberry disengaging!
(With this, the smoking, short-circuiting Tonberry finally swoops away.)
Basch: There is no simple way through the fortress – the Minimap at the top right of your screen may not be enough to gain your bearings. Should you lose your way, consult your Location Map by pressing the touch pad button. This will bring up the map of the fortress we gave you before we set out. If you still find yourself at a loss, pressing the L3 button will allow you to view the Location Map as you move. Navigate your way through as you see fit.
Lower Apartments
Reks: What if Captain Azelas has fallen?
Basch: Don’t talk such nonsense! Vossler’s laughed in the face of Death far too many times to stop now! Men like him don’t die in places like this. We must make haste to reach the King. We will take him to safety.
Reks: Is His Majesty unharmed?
Basch: He’ll agree to an unconditional surrender. They wouldn’t dare touch him until the wax on his seal is dry.
Reks: But if we arrive after he’s signed the treaty –
Basch: Wait. (he pauses, seeming to think a second) Quickly, Reks!
(They take off running.)
Basch: Ahead we will face many Imperials, but we need not fight them all. Oftimes retreat is the wiser course. Should the need arise, press and hold R2 to run from your foes. There is no shame in fleeing from a battle that serves no purpose.
Upper Apartments
The Highhall
(As they go along, they are waylaid by four Imperial soldiers.)
Reks: Sir! We have little time! You must go to the king! I’ll handle these!
(Basch considers it a moment.)
Basch: Fight well.
(Basch leaves with the other soldiers.)
[After defeating the Imperials and moving to the red X on your map…]
(The door to the chamber is mysteriously ajar, and Reks enters cautiously. He gasps; the bodies of both Imperial and Dalmascan soldiers are strewn about; the King himself is sitting hunched over in his chair, lifeless.)
Reks: Your Majesty…
(When Reks turns around, Basch is there – and sticks a knife in his gut.)
Reks: Captain, why? Our King – What have you done?
(Basch retracts the knife and walks away slowly.)
Basch: The King intended all along to sell Dalmasca to the Empire. His Majesty was a traitor.
Reks: Captain, I –
(Reks turns to Basch, and then collapses to the ground. Imperials rush into the room. An authoritative voice commands them.)
????: Seize the insurgent!
Imperial: M’lord!
(Reks’s vision fades in and out, but he sees Basch, kneeling on the ground, his arms restrained by Imperial soldiers, and someone else standing before him.)
????: Well, so much for peaceful negotiations.
Basch: We’ll never surrender to you! We are not cattle to be sold by a traitor-king!
????: But the war is over, my dear captain. You have lost. Dalmasca is the property of the Empire, now. And to think, we intended to let you keep some of your sovereignty, out of respect. But now you’ve gone and ruined that. Haven’t you, Captain?
Basch: We will never bow to you!
????: And the people of Dalmasca will hate you for it. Take the Captain away.
(Reks’s vision finally fails him as he loses consciousness, leaving behind one last thought.)
Reks: Vaan…
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Next: "Excerpt from the Memoirs of Mqs. Halim Ondore IV, Chapter 13: The Province of Allies"
Basch: Fight well.
(Basch leaves with the other soldiers.)
[After defeating the Imperials and moving to the red X on your map…]
(The door to the chamber is mysteriously ajar, and Reks enters cautiously. He gasps; the bodies of both Imperial and Dalmascan soldiers are strewn about; the King himself is sitting hunched over in his chair, lifeless.)
Reks: Your Majesty…
(When Reks turns around, Basch is there – and sticks a knife in his gut.)
Reks: Captain, why? Our King – What have you done?
(Basch retracts the knife and walks away slowly.)
Basch: The King intended all along to sell Dalmasca to the Empire. His Majesty was a traitor.
Reks: Captain, I –
(Reks turns to Basch, and then collapses to the ground. Imperials rush into the room. An authoritative voice commands them.)
????: Seize the insurgent!
Imperial: M’lord!
(Reks’s vision fades in and out, but he sees Basch, kneeling on the ground, his arms restrained by Imperial soldiers, and someone else standing before him.)
????: Well, so much for peaceful negotiations.
Basch: We’ll never surrender to you! We are not cattle to be sold by a traitor-king!
????: But the war is over, my dear captain. You have lost. Dalmasca is the property of the Empire, now. And to think, we intended to let you keep some of your sovereignty, out of respect. But now you’ve gone and ruined that. Haven’t you, Captain?
Basch: We will never bow to you!
????: And the people of Dalmasca will hate you for it. Take the Captain away.
(Reks’s vision finally fails him as he loses consciousness, leaving behind one last thought.)
Reks: Vaan…
Previous: "Excerpt from the Memoirs of Mqs. Halim Ondore IV, Chapter 12: Of the Fall of Kingdoms"
Next: "Excerpt from the Memoirs of Mqs. Halim Ondore IV, Chapter 13: The Province of Allies"
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