We started with a
mantor race against Maximus, who wasted no time in making his mark on Liberty
Castle. Each of us jumped on one of the giant flying bugs and a tight race
ensued. No one but Maximus was accustomed to racing these insects, so we had
some miscommunications and false starts before the end. Daisy eked out a
victory with Harold a close second, and Royce right behind. As a prize, Harold
and Royce got some potch and items, and Daisy got to keep her mantor! (This
gives her the ability to be a flyer unit instead of cavalry in war battles, and
in normal battles she gains an extra +50 HP! We should race again soon!) Her
yellow mantor has since been named Tomin, and she is still figuring out how to
care for him effectively.
The next morning, we
were woken by the castle proximity alarm and ran outside to find a flight of
dragons landing on the lawn. Futch and Milia took the lead and pledged their
dragon knights to our cause. As a special treat, the dragons carried with them
the hero of the Toran republic, Tir McDohl, and his servant Gremio (think
Gourry from Slayers in appearance, with a Kenshin scar on his cheek). Milia and
her dragon Thrash joined us as two more stars of destiny, but Futch came out of
friendship to Royce.
Caesar put our new
allies right to work causing avalanches and dropping rocks on the Camaro troops
at Orden castle, the last barrier between us and the land that Yuber had chosen
to support. It wasn’t the most honorable tactic, but as our spokesman says, “War is at its best barbarism.” – William Tecumseh Sherman. At
Orden, we found Camaro general Janell and her all-human troops standing as a
last line of defense, and together we were able to bring them down without too
much trouble. Janell had been opposed to the use of demons and her queen’s new
policies, but she was loyal to her country and only took us defensive
positions. She refused to join us at first, but when we informed her of Yuber’s
crimes against the people of Harmonia and all the innocent civilians he had
turned into demons, Janell saw that she had to offer us her help if we were
fighting such a criminal. General Janell became the first person in Camaro to
join our cause.
Back at Liberty Castle,
we wandered into the kitchen for a snack and found Hai Yo being challenged to a
double-battle against his old comrades Antonio and Lester.
Xavier
is a wise old elf who likes his Chinese food!
April
grew up like her dad Flik, and loves the same stuff he does! Isn’t that sweet?
This sexy star of
Witchport used to be a Harmonian Priest General! It’s Faye!
The vampire Sierra doesn’t drink blood, but she
seems to favor red sauce all the same!
Appetizer: Eggrolls
(eggrolls+no spice): Sciath, Hai Yo: 10,10,10,10
Main Course: Meat
lasagna (lasagna+salt): Royce, Daisy: 8888
Dessert: Hot Fudge
Sundae (ice cream+chocolate sauce): Kuarjav, Harold: 9999
Total: 108
Challengers: Antonio’s Breadsticks
9999, Lester’s Ramen 3334, Fruit Fondue 2223
Total: 59
We got Recipe #37 “Breadsticks”
and Recipe #17 “Ramen”, and the chefs parted on relatively good terms.
The pans were still hot
when traveling cooks Mia and Nafra issued a challenge! The little ladies had heard
of his reputation and wanted to test their skills against the famous Hai Yo.
This um, woman, loves
to drink….blood? Does she even eat food? Um, it’s Natasha!
This ‘joker’ doesn’t
take his food lightly! It’s Joker!
For one so small, she
loves to eat something called French food! It’s Aila!
Leader of the Dragon’s
Den and Royce’s Boss, it’s the politically correct Milia!
Appetizer: Nutella
Crepe (sandwich+chocolate sauce): Harold, Hai Yo: 9,10,10,10
Main Course: Creamy
Gratin (gratin+sugar): Royce, Kuarjav: 7899
Dessert: Lemon Meringue
Pie (pie+salt): Sciath, Daisy: 7899
Total: 105
Muffins 8888, Full
Course Special 8888, Cookies 4444
Total: 80
Mia gave us Recipe #14 “Cookies”,
and Nafra handed over Recipe #3 “Muffins”, leaving us with a whole lot more
sweets to choose from.
With troops from Camaro
starting to pour in, Liberty Castle was upgraded to Level 4. The biggest
changes are the new dragon stables on the lawn and the changes to the top
floor, where every member of the Unity Rune Warriors now has a private room of
his or her own design. Most have kept their personal spaces private so far, but
Royce was quick to tell everyone that his room was now big enough to house Vasuki
the dragon as well, and Daisy likes to keep her mantor Tomin in the corner too.
At Daisy’s insistence,
we traveled back to Octavia’s cave to check up on her, only to find her ill and
unresponsive. We had little choice but to take her and her zebra back to
Liberty Castle and leave her in Roy’s care in the medical ward. Though Daisy
still doesn’t like her, she couldn’t find it in her heart to leave an old woman
to die.
Ramza’s rumors sent us
first to Caleria, where we found a crowd gathered around a dancing girl. We
waited until her dance had finished before approaching her, and when we
explained how other non-combatants like singers and artists had joined us, Amber
the dancer eagerly signed up. Later, in Adosi, we happened upon Fred and Rico of
the Maximillian Knights on their way to Liberty Castle. We were able to save
them the trouble and introduced them to Kuarjav, who accepted their aid on
behalf of his army.
The Unity Rune Warriors
took their first trip back to Crystal Valley since Pearl’s death to see the
city being slowly rebuilt, refugees returning to their homes to try and pick up
the pieces. Daisy immediately started asking if anyone knew of the
Saint-Anicets, and one old man told her that he knew of a couple named
Saint-Anicet who lived alone in a fancy house, having lost their two children
some time before. Outside the house he indicated, we met a man who identified
himself as Pesmerga and said he could sense Yuber’s power inside the house. He
went inside with us when there was no answer at the door, and an elderly couple
asked us why we had entered their home. Daisy introduced herself as Rose’s
daughter; they couple reacted with anger and shifted into awful half-demon
forms that they said had been granted to them by Yuber. We subdued but did not
kill them, and Daisy decided to lock them up in one of our castle dungeons
until they were willing to talk to her. Pesmerga joined our army when we
explained that Yuber was a great enemy of ours who we had faced many times and
were sure to again, and he agreed to stand guard over the Saint-Anicets until
Yuber appeared again. Daisy still does not know exactly who the Saint-Anicet
couple are to her, not even their names, but Viktor said that they might be
Rose’s parents (thus Daisy’s grandparents), though he couldn’t be certain as
long as they refused to speak. Viktor had run into Daisy’s grandparents once or
twice during his courtship of Rose, but they had been less than supportive of
the affair.
Needing a break, the
team went to find Amber’s new dance show to relax. Royce and Daisy won 5000
potch each for their dancing skills (tips?), and then we went to the kitchen
one final time. Alas, a quiet dinner was not to be, for the chef Wakai had
returned once more to challenge Hai Yo. This time, Wakai was assisted by Ryoko,
the sister of two chefs who had killed themselves after a defeat against Hai Yo
(in Suikoden II).
The architect of your
home and mine, it’s Reynaldo! He
loves his pasta with red sauce!
Bryce
is the bodyguard and food tester of Hikusaak. He’s learned to love the same
foods as Hikusaak!
The head of security
here at Liberty Castle, it’s Cassie!
She loves the food of her homeland, Rokkaku!
Geddoe
here is a hero among heroes! He’s traveled far and wide to find his favorite
food is Chinese!
Appetizer: Spaghetti
with Meatballs (spaghetti+salt): Sciath, Hai Yo: 10,999
Main Course: Japanese
Curry (curry+sugar): Daisy, Harold: 10,10,10,10
Dessert: Bacon
Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae (bacon+chocolate sauce): Royce, Kuarjav: 8888
Total: 109
Wakai makes calamari 6676, Wakai tempura don 10,10,10,10, cake 3333
Total: 77
Ryoko stormed off,
furious, but this time Wakai accepted our offer to become Hai Yo’s apprentice
(and a star of destiny). We gained Recipe #8 “Cake” and Recipe #10 “Tempura”.
Recruited: Milia,
Thrash, Janell, Amber, Fred, Rico, Pesmerga, Wakai
(non-star recruits:
Futch, Bright, McDohl, Gremio,
Investigations: Pesmerga,
Janell, Milia, Thrash, Bazeroth
