Let's Play Gensou Suikoden!; GS1 PART 23

[surskitty]

LAST TIME: Hi Ted! ... Bye, Ted! :'(

Joshua and Liukan are in Joshua's office.
: "Sir ☆☆☆☆☆☆, you've returned safely."

: "You're back, Milia."
: "Yes, Sir Joshua. Here is the moonlight weed."
: "Next we need the black dragon orchid. I'm ready to go anywhere in the world for it."
: "But there's a problem."
: "What is it?"
: "Futch went alone to Gregminster Palace to get it."
: "The only place where one can obtain the black dragon orchid is the Floating Garden at Gregminster. I shouldn't have mentioned it in front of him."

Fade out.
[BGM: Fly, Black!]

[BGM: None; the sound of wind and birds, but it's a much more foreboding sound than usual.]
: "OK, wait here, Black. I'll be right back."
And walking around as Futch!


Walk over to the one that looks kind of dragony aaaaaand...
: "Damn, there are so many that I don't know which one is the black dragon orchid. Hmmm, this one looks most like the one that Liukan described."
: "You're right, that is a black dragon orchid."
: "Wh-who is it?"
Barbarosa walks up.
: "That is my question, young man. You must be aware that this is the Imperial Garden."
: "Y-you're the E-Emperor."
: "I never thought I'd run into a flower thief in a sleepless night." 'Milich always asked nicely.'
: "Judging from your outfit, you must be a Dragon Knight."
: "Y-yes your highness, I-I'm Futch, Dragon Knight 9th Class."
: "An apprentice. And what might you be doing here?"
: "I-I came to g-get a black dragon orchid, your H-Highness. P-please let me go. I really need this orchid. To wake up the other dragons."
: "Dragons? It must be Windy again. Young man, you must leave immediately."
: [twitches] "Y-you'll let me g-go?"
: "Hurry, while I still feeling generous." I'd like to buy a copula....
: "Y-yes, your Highness." He takes an orchid.

Walking back to Black ...
: "Phew! W-was that really the Emperor? Must have been. That sheer presence. But he sure was different from all those rumors. He let me go, and... Oh, well, now that I have the black dragon orchid, I'd better hurry home. Right, Black?"
Black trumpets.
[BGM: Theme of Tension ~ Impact Version]
Uh.
: "Oh, I'm just in time."
: "W-who are you?! I've already got the black dragon orchid. Bye!"
And Black takes off! But Windy walks over to the edge.
: "What an uncouth boy. You should be punished."
She raises her hand, and...


Bzzzzt.
: "Ahhhhhhhh!"
"Brrrrrrrhhhhhhh!"
Black falls.

The screen's blacked out. No music.
"Futch, Futch, are you all right? Futch... Wake up, Futch."
Fade in, Futch is in the bed in Joshua's office. Milia, Liukan, ☆☆☆☆☆☆, and Joshua are standing near the bed.
[BGM: Main Theme ~ Ensemble Version]
: "I must bring back... the black dragon orchid."
: "Ahem! It appears you're awake."
: [turns around] "Huh? What??? Where am I? Where's the orchid?"
: "Don't worry. When we found you unconscious in the forest, you had the black dragon orchid in your hand. We had a hard time prying it loose."
: "I see, then the dragons..."
: "Yes, I made the antidote from the three ingredients and gave them to the dragons. They should be awakening soon."
: "Thank god. ......... Dr. Liukan, what was the third ingredient?"
[BGM: Touching Theme]
: "Harrumph! The th-third ingredient?"
: "Is something the matter?"
Liukan moves out of the way to make room for Joshua.
: "......... I'll tell you. The third ingredient was a dragon's liver. And it came from..."
: "!!! N-not... my... Black..."
: "I'm afraid that when we found him, Black was already dead." D:
: "Hate me if you want, but we had no choice."
: "B-but... B-Black..."
Fade out.

[BGM: An Old Irish Song]
☆☆☆☆☆☆, Humphrey, and Flik are downstairs.
: "Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆. Joshua's dragons have awakened. Let's go to Joshua's quarters to draw up an alliance pact between the Liberation Army and the Dragon Knights. He should agree to help us now."
: "You're right. He hasn't committed to an alliance yet."

: "Sir ☆☆☆☆☆☆, the dragons will now..."
[BGM: Main Theme ~ Ensemble Version]
: "Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆, on the behalf of the Dragon Knights, I thank you."
: "Well then, Joshua."
: "It looks like we'll be fighting together again, side by side. But against a different enemy this time. Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆, the Dragon Knights will join you. To defeat the Empire."
Joshua joins!
: "Now we can finally return to Penis Castle. I can't stand the smell of dragons." THEY DON'T LIKE YOU EITHER
: "Humphrey, I have a request."
: "Request?"
: "Come in, Futch."
Futch walks in from the left stairs.
: "You know what this is about, Futch?"
: "Yes, sir."
: "A Dragon Knight who has lost his dragon must leave the Dragon's Den. Now that you have lost Black, I cannot keep you here." ... But Joshua doesn't have a dragon, either. Unless you count the fact that all of the dragons would die if his rune stopped having a bearer, and that all of the dragons obey him.
: "I understand, sir. Black probably died to save my life."
: "Futch, don't blame yourself." WHY ARE YOU EXILING HIM.
: "I'm all right. I just want to believe that Black saved me."
: "Humphrey, will you take Futch with you? I won't have to worry about him if he's with you."
: "... I understand." And so, Humphrey became a parent!
: "Thank you, sir."
: "Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆, when war breaks out, we'll rush to your aid."
: "Master ☆☆☆☆☆☆, Master Liukan wanted to return, so we are about to fly him home on a dragon. Would you and the rest of your men like a ride too?"
IT'S A FUCKING DRAGON.
: "Please."
: "Fine. I will be waiting out front with Thrash." So enthused, aren't you, Milia.
: "Futch, take care. Someday you may be able to return."
: "Yes, sir."
: "Hey, don't look so depressed. I'll teach you how to use a sword." I was going to go 'in more ways than one' and then I remembered Futch is supposed to be eleven. Flik can teach SuikoIII Futch how to use a ... sword.
Let's age him up into this and then make dirty jokes. That's Humphrey's sword he's carrying. IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

: "Please take good care of Futch."

: "Master ☆☆☆☆☆☆, if you're ready, I will fly you home on Thrash."
Off we go!

Oho!

I step inside and Krin and Kasumi are arguing near the elevator!
: "What are you talking about? Don't you trust my instincts?"
: "Your instincts? Don't make me laugh. Thanks to your instincts, we almost got captured by the Imperials, remember?"
: "Hee hee, I wasn't quite myself that time."
: "What's the problem here?"
: "I'm saying that I have a hunch. He's a spy for sure. That's why he won't talk."
: "That doesn't necessarily mean he's a spy."
: "What's going on here!"
: [bounces] "Oh, er, welcome back Sir Flik, Master ☆☆☆☆☆☆."
: [bolts] "Hee hee, how ladylike you try to be in front of ☆☆☆☆☆☆. But for you it's a lost cause." [finishes bolting]
: "!!!!!!!! Watch your mouth, you rat!" Aaaaaand she chases him. DON'T MOCK HER CRUSH. EVEN IF THEIR DATES DO END UP CONSISTING OF KASUMI TRYING TO START UP CONVERSATION WHILE TIR STARES AT A FISHING ROD FOR HOURS ON END AND BROODS.
: "Wh-what the..."

Well, seeing what that was about would be sensible, so to Rikon I go!
Well, that's unsuspicious.
: "What are you looking at? Something wrong with my appearance?" Well, you look like you're probably a filthy Harmonian devil, so ... [recruit]
: "Leader of the Liberation Army? I'm just passing through this land. Not that I have a particular destination and maybe I'll find a clue here. What? Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself. OK. I'll give you a hand."
Filthy Harmonian scum get! He uses a rare weapon called a 'gun'. Weird.

To Kalekka!
: "My, how the Liberation Army's grown. Please tell Mathiu how impressive it's become."

[BGM: Glorious Island Fortress, and I suppose it's probably been that way since the first time I said it was Glorious Island Fortress; I can't actually tell the two apart without thinking about it.]
Nope! No Dragon Knights here.
: "Uh huh."
: ".........? Did you manage to secure an alliance?"
: "Don't worry, Medical Officer. It's just that Humphrey could be a little friendlier to others." TALENTED MILITARY SURGEON GET.
: "Uh huh."
: "By the way, who is this silent fellow here?"
: "Kasumi and Krin captured him hanging around the castle. He refuses to say anything, so we were waiting for you to come back and decide what to do with him."
: "☆☆☆☆☆☆! Are you Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆ of the Liberation Army? Thank goodness. Now I can complete my mission for Master Warren. I kept silent because I was under strict orders not to speak to anyone until I met you face to face. Kasim Hazil, who took over the northern defenses after Teo McDohl, has recently begun to apply extreme pressure on rebel factions."
: "He's looking for a comeback." Thank you. Shut up.
: "My Master Warren is a famous man of wealth in the north, long respected even by the Imperials. But as a man of honor and generosity, he harbored many fugitives in his mansion. As a result his home was surrounded by Kasim Hazil and his troops. Master Warren and Sir Viktor, who just happened to have dropped by, fought hard against the Imperials, but they were eventually captured and taken prisoner. This is what Master Warren told me to tell you."
: "Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆. Viktor is one of our most powerful soldiers. Warren, despite his wealth, is an honorable man with a large following. We must go and rescue them." I like the implication that Mathiu doesn't trust people with money.
: "At present Kasim Hazil's troops number more than 8,000." I DON'T CARE, SANCHEZ. FUCK OFF.
: "And they're a trained army, whereas we're just a ragtag bunch." Ah, but we have awesome on our side. Awesome ... like Qlon.
: "Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆, despite its name, the Liberation Army is not yet a unified army. To continue fighting in the future, we need to give the troops some proper military training."

: "I agree."
: "Let me make the necessary preparations. I suggest you retire now, Commander ☆☆☆☆☆☆. You have a busy day ahead."

THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, YOU GUYS.

AT THIS POINT, DO NOT GO TOWARDS ☆☆☆☆☆☆'S ROOM. NO, SERIOUSLY. THIS IS PRETTY MUCH YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO RECRUIT LEON. (I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER TIME, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. DO NOT RISK IT.)

On a completely different note, apparently Flik, Hix, and Tengaar share a room and it has one bed in it. Take that as you will.

SEE THIS. YOU DO NOT SEE THIS OFTEN.
: "Leon? He said his name was Leon Silverberg?"
Fade out.
: "I have a letter here. Will you deliver it to him?"
Received Mathiu's letter

: "A letter from Mathiu?"
Delivered Mathiu's letter
: "To think that he would want me to help!"
: "I'll do anything to win this war. Even if it means asking you for your help."
Mathiu walks in.
: "Mathiu... you don't trust me. Yet you ask me to help?"
: "You're right, I don't trust you. Even now I suspect you. But I do trust your power. Please give it to us. Please!"
Long pause.
: "You, bowing to me. Very well, then. But I never thought we'd fight together again!"
FUCK YEAH. You know how many playthroughs I've seen go through without that dialogue box? A lot. He is terribly easy to miss.

Sticking blacksmiths in my party and to Seek Valley!
: "Master!"
: "Here you are!"
: "You disappeared without warning."
: "Master Mace, we are now members of the Liberation Army. We have not forgotten what you taught us. That is why we chose the path we deemed correct. Master Mace, please give us your support."
: "You -- you've all grown up. I was planning to rot away here alone, but perhaps I'll take on one more job. Master ☆☆☆☆☆☆, I'm at your service."
I can now sharpen to level 16! That's the cap. As such, pulling up everyone I can who's also in II to sharpen them since I've heard it makes a difference and all of the suikoI characters seemed to come super sharp in II for me .... I've also heard that leveling them up has bonuses in II, and I mean other than that the highest leveled character starts four levels higher than usual. Can't hurt, I guess. I usually do this sort of thing during the last dungeon, but I figured that since I have the party space... [spoiler=recurring SuikoII cast, in order of me maxing their weapons out]☆☆☆☆☆☆, Valeria, Tai Ho, Humphrey, Lorelai, Stallion, Hix, Clive, Meg, Flik, and I am now bored. Still should do Luc, Viktor, Tengaar, Futch, Kasumi, and Pesmerga. Yam Koo is in II; he's just not a party member.[/spoiler]

The next star I'm grabbing is ... really random. To Neclord's castle!
wtf?
: "Hmmm. I thought that if I pursued Neclord, I'd run into Yuber. In any case, I never thought that anyone could defeat Neclord." [recruit] "Liberation Army? So you're defying the Imperials. Hmmm. All right. I understand that he's now part of the Imperial Army." Pesmerga isn't quite a GUIDE DANG IT; one of the Old Books mentions him. Still pretty random, though. So's Clive, really.

To Qlon!
: "Ho ho, you've found me. I didn't think anyone would come here. Recruit me? Hmmm... it might be nice to enjoy a little sunshine after all this time."

STATS:

- STARS RECRUITED: 92.5 + Futch + Joshua + Clive + Taggart + Leon + Mace + Pesmerga + Crowley = 100.5 / 108
- Game Overs: 1 total
- BOCCHAAA~~~N: Gremio: 75.5, Pahn: 8, Cleo: 14, other: 4, total: 101.5
- TALENTED MILITARY SURGEON: Mathiu: 2, everyone else: 2 + 1, 5 total
- Bathrooms: 0

NEXT TIME: Training manoeuvres and the fine art of getting Viktor back!