Maidens of the Kaleidoscope

~Beyond the Border~ => Akyu's Arcade => Topic started by: The ⑨th Zentillion on May 26, 2011, 10:45:01 PM

Title: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: The ⑨th Zentillion on May 26, 2011, 10:45:01 PM

Long ago...
When the world was yet wreathed in Chaos...
It is said the Heavens gave order to the Chaos...
That the Heavens bequeathed a great power to the Earth...
Granting unto it prosperity.
Thus, the advent of all life on Earth.
Especially wise and gifted...
The Divine Race of the Danans.
Swimming gracefully through the seas...
The Merfolk
Living proud, yet arrogant lives...
The Reptiles.
And possessing incredible strength...
The Giants.
However...
None were able to earn the Heavens' favor...
And in time, one by one...
They disappeared.
In time, the Heavens gave birth once again.
Life, 'tis said, flourished anew.

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/Title.png)
Welcome to Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!

Quite possibly one of the last jRPGs to come out for the SNES. Or rather, the Super Famicom as it was never released outside of Japan due to Nintendo concentrating on the N64 by this time elsewhere - they had all but abandoned releasing any remaining SFC games (this and Square didn't feel like translating it). In other words, No Export For You. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoExportForYou)

So, it remained in Japanese for some time until a French fan-translation group got ahold of it, and then eventually, Aeon Genesis released an English version based on the French one in July of 2003. Exactly three years later, an improved translation with some varying system tweaks was made by the same group. This last translation is the one I will be using.

The two main attractions of Rudras are the scenario system and the magic system. The former will be explained in this post, while the latter will be explained in the second update when we get to the actual meat of the gameplay. In any case, the first thing we're going to, as is usual in RPGs... name the main characters! There are four of them, each one will be the leader of one of the scanarios.

We have:

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/NameSion.png)
Sion, a royal knight and warrior's warrior, his scenario concentrates on traveling the world, a tournament, becoming stronger and eventually finding his mentor.

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/NameSurlent.png)
Surlent, a magician and researcher, whose current studies involve the Lago Stones, where the beings in the title rest. He's a bit gullible, though, and because of this gets swept up in some crazy spiritual hijinks. Oh and getting tricked. Several times. :V

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/NameRiza.png)
Riza, a priestess on a mission to rid the planet of pollution, a huge pollutant outbreak was caused by an event that happened halfway through Humanity's lifespan. What makes her special, though, is she's apparently fated to do this task due to being born with a jewel in her forehead.

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/NameDune.png)
And Dune, a "Treasure Hunter" who runs into them all during the others' adventures. His importance isn't, well, important until much later. In fact, you have to

complete everyone else's scenarios first.

Now that you've named them all, you can select the scenarios of Sion, Surlent, or Riza. You can switch between scenarios at any time by saving and then restarting the game and selecting a different character. For the sake of this LP and being optimal, I will be doing these scenarios in a certain order. Or, rather, I'm going to do Surlent's scenario first, and then decide between doing Sion's or Riza's afterward. This is mainly because there's an optional boss in Riza's scenario that can't be battled without getting to a certain point in Surlent's, and also a choice in his scenario will affect a boss in Sion's, and vice versa. I'll be showing off these, oh yes.

In any case, the scenario select has a little blurb about each of them:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/AboutSion.png)
Sion: "I'll become the greatest warrior ever!"

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/AboutSurlent.png)
Surlent: "The secrets of our past ensure our future."

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/AboutRiza.png)
Riza: "Our ailing planet needs our help, badly..."

And thus, we are ready to go!

...Except for one thing: For a little interactive fun, before the next update, I would like suggestions of what to rename the characters to, if anything. A maximum of eight characters can be used.

Next time, on Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras: Surlent (or whatever his new name will be)'s scenario, day 1!

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: theshirn on May 26, 2011, 10:47:57 PM

Never got very far in this, such a shame.  I'll be going back to it sooner or later.

Sion is Axehead.  Because a guy like that is going to get an axe in his head sooner or later.  It might be an RPG axe that does around 7 damage, but the point stands.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Garlyle on May 27, 2011, 01:43:02 AM

Oh boy oh boy are you taking Mantra votes? :3c

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: The ⑨th Zentillion on May 27, 2011, 09:33:17 AM

Quote from: Garlyle on May 27, 2011, 01:43:02 AM

Oh boy oh boy are you taking Mantra votes? :3c

I usually use a certain set when I play, but for the LP's sake, yes, I will be taking suggestions - but on top of/replacing ones on my master list.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Aisha on May 27, 2011, 09:48:05 AM

I love this game and its awesome soundtrack. The first time I played through it, I went through each scenario one-by-one, starting with Sion, moving on to Surlent, and then Riza. The second time I've played through it, I played through each scenario simultaneously.  :D I really have to find the time to play through it again some day.

The battle system becomes quite repetitive, though; it's my only (small) gripe against the game. After a certain point, I found myself employing the exact same strategy against every boss.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Hello Purvis on May 30, 2011, 11:00:47 PM

Be a real man, don't use any mantras but the ones you see in books or see used against you.

Except for the odd experimental one, of course~

Also: If Surlent is to be renamed, it must be Palazzo. He may have the spells THIS WORLD and IS ROTTEN.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Chaore on May 30, 2011, 11:35:34 PM

Priestess you say?

Screw Riza, her name is now Ciel.

And you best give her swords to chuck at motherfuckers and light them on fire, or your ass is mine.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: E-Nazrin on May 30, 2011, 11:49:59 PM

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/exitjmouse/excaldies.jpg)

Reproduce this.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Dragoshi on May 31, 2011, 02:40:30 AM

Okay so. I will agree with Purvis on renaming Surlent as Palazzo.

also I am tempted to suggest renaming Riza into Hawkeye but no that's dumb.

Instead, ah... Sion shall be now known as... Buckler. (Short for 'swashbuckler'. :VV)

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: The ⑨th Zentillion on May 31, 2011, 03:44:22 AM

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets%20Play%20Treasure%20of%20the%20Rudras/newnames.png)

Here it is, the new names... except Dune's. Day 1 of Surlent's Palazzo's scenario (and maybe more) coming tomorrow!

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: theshirn on May 31, 2011, 03:50:53 AM

I approve and look forward to this.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: The ⑨th Zentillion on May 31, 2011, 08:02:11 PM

...Well now. I worked on the update for six hours or so, only to lose the whole damn thing because of one misclick on this page.

>:( There will be a delay, I basically have to type down the whole script all over again, redo the image links, etc.

Technical difficulties, please stand by.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Chaore on May 31, 2011, 09:48:12 PM

Quote from: The ⑨th Dragonball Zentillion on May 31, 2011, 08:02:11 PM

...Well now. I worked on the update for six hours or so, only to lose the whole damn thing because of one misclick on this page.

>:( There will be a delay, I basically have to type down the whole script all over again, redo the image links, etc.

Technical difficulties, please stand by.

This is why I type updates up in word. Just a hint.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: theshirn on June 01, 2011, 01:20:19 AM

Quote from: Chaore on May 31, 2011, 09:48:12 PM

This is why I type updates up in word. Just a hint.

Yeah, I've lost updates the same way.  For big things, do them separately.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Gesh86 on June 01, 2011, 06:09:06 PM

Treasure of the Rudras - the only game where you can use vulgar words to cast your magic. Hehehe...

Very neat game. It's a bit of a crime that it never made it over the shores. The same could be said for games like Live-A-Live. Though I bet for that one it was more about censorship or something.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: XephyrEnigma on June 01, 2011, 07:46:10 PM

They aren't original, but for your mantras you should at least have

Lefgod and a ~nareem

for whatever situation. (that is, when they become necessary)

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: The ⑨th Zentillion on June 02, 2011, 11:50:29 PM

Alright, here we go. And this time, THIS TIME I did it in a word processor first. X_X Technical difficulties over!

Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras! - Palazzo's Scenario, Day 1, Part 1: Stones, Stealing, and Stories

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/popening.png)
3980
During an expedition at the summit to the Tower of the Giants, Dr. Muench discovers a stone monolith at the tower's summit.
Emedded within the stone lay a creature of unknown origin.
Muench named this monolith the Lago Stone.

3999
Nineteen years have passed since Dr. Muench's discovery.
Now, on the eve of the coming melinneum, Dr. Muench discovered a new Lago Stone in the Dragon God Ruins.

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-1.png)
And the first person, interestingly enough isn't Palazzo, but a character named Legin, who seems to take some fashion cues from a certain sickly youkai librarian asking Dr. Muench (the old guy with the blue hair). Palazzo's too engrossed in looking at the Lago Stone to talk, it would seem.

Muench: Of the Reptile race, if I'm any judge. The carving on the surface appears to be a creature called a "Rudra".
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-2.png)
And now our protagonist gets to talk! He mainly just comments on the Stone's power, but gives another interesting tidbit about it as well.

Palazzo: Indeed. Particularly around the small jewel set into the carving itself...
Muench: We still have a lot to do on the inscriptions proper. Once translated, they may be able to tell us more about it.
Legin: This thing's giving me the creeps... Are you sure we should bring it back to the lab in Avdol? If it's as powerful as you say it is...
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-3.png)
Ooh, powerful artifact! Whenever there's one in an RPG, you know it's probably pretty dang important. Just how important? You'll see.
 
Muench: Its powers should be able to dampen the Lago Stone's innate energies.
Legin: Is this stone as old as the last one?
Muench: Older still. The Giants' Lago Stone dates back only 8,000 years... This one, on the other hand appears to be nearly 12,000 years old.
Legin: That's a 4,000-year difference.

Multiples of 4(000)? Uh oh... Considering the demographic of the forum, most of you probably know the significance of the number. If not, well, 4 is the number of death in several far eastern mythologies, and is considered quite unlucky. It's kind of like 13 in the West. How is this important in this game? Read on, they talk a little about it in this conversation.

Legin (in fact mentions it right now): You think those old myths are true then? The ones about the 4,000-year cycle of creation and destruction?
Muench: if so, my studies have yet to show conclusive proof for it. As far as any Cataclysm is concerned... it's only a matter of time, really.
Palazzo: You believe the myths, then?
Muench: Ha! Who needs ancient mystical beasts? between the air and water pollution, we're doing a fine job ourselves. No, gentlemen! If our destruction looms, it is by our hands alone.

The pollution will become a recurring theme in the game, though mainly in Ciel's scenario rather than Palazzo's or Axehead's, but all three deal with it in some way.

But, Palazzo's question is answered - Dr. Muench is quite skeptical.

Muench: At any rate! Go to Eremia and ask him for the Holy Grail on my behalf.

Wait, did he just say the Holy Grail?! I think he just said it.

Palazzo: Very well.
Muench: Take care, you! Eremia's Grail is beyond priceless! If something was to happen to it...
Legin: And you, Doctor?
Muench: We shall transport the Stone to Oriab in preparation for shipping. We'll meet up at the Inn once all's said and done.
Legin: Works for me. Let's go, Mr. Surlent!

And with that, Palazzo and Legin exit, and he joins you as your second party member. Something catches Legin's eye on the way out, however.
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/jadesigil-p.png)
Archaeologist: That thing? That's the Jade Sigil. As a symbol, it predates all known races... You might have remembered it from the Lago Stone. The Rudra has the same sigil carved on that jewel of his.
Palazzo: is this Sigil found on all Lago Stones?
Legin: Maybe we should wait with the questions until we get back. Lord Eremia's practically a legend around here. Wait 'til you see his place!
Archaeologist: Oh! Are you heading to Lord Eremia's? Exit the ruins and...
Legin: ...head west. I know the drill. I've been there before.

The Sigil flashes as the two depart, not noticing it, and we're transported to the world map!
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-4.png)
Now that we're here, we can check our menu by pressing X, so let's do it and I'll do a little bit of explaining!

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pmenu-main.png)

• Items - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/items.png)
  Lets you look at, select, and use your consumable items. Pretty self-explanitory. You can reorder them by clicking once and selecting another spot.
• Mantras - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/mantras.png)
  Lets you look at your Mantras and use your healing ones. The ones you see here are Palazzo's party's default ones.
• Enscribe - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/inscribe1.png)
  This is where you write your Mantras for them to be used and rearrange them if you wish. Pressing Y allows you to copy-paste. Clicking one twice will go to the input screen:
  (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/inscribe2.png)
  And you just put a word, any word into this to get a mantra! Mantras come as three parts - the base, along with prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes and suffixes can change the strength of your spell for better or worse, change its targetting, and other things. There are also some that actually cut the cost of your Mantras, though usually at the cost of power, though there are some exceptions.
• Equip - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/equip.png)
  This allows you to select your character and change their equipment. Wearing equipment of the same element protects you, while wearing one of the opposite can really wreck your shit. Of course, this goes same for you, if you hit them with a weapon opposite their element, it will hurt a lot while the same type won't do much. Using elements to your advantage is pretty much mandatory in the game.
• Inventory - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/inventory.png)
  Lets you see all of your items, weapons, armor, and key items and look at their descriptions. You can't use your consumables from here, nor can you rearrange your items.
• Status - Shows your character's stats and elemental affinity. Those stats are: Attack Power, which is the power of your character's physical attack. Defense, which is your resistance to physical attacks. Mag Defend, which is your resistance to magical attacks. Strength, which is your overall physical power. Agility, which helps define your character's hit and dodge rate. Speed, which is how fast you are, and influences your turn order if you have the order by speed option on. And Spirit, which powers your mantras, and also influences the power of back row weapons by a little.
  (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/status-pal.png)
  Palazzo has decent base Strength, Speed, and Agility, while having some very nice Spirit, which is good considering he's the heavy mage.
  (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/status-leg.png)
  Legin has similar stats, but his spirit's a fair amount lower than Palazzo's, but it's still decent. He has better attack right now because Palazzo is wielding that cane.
• Options - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/options.png)
  Lets you configure your game. You can switch your sound from stereo or mono, change your battle cursor's memory (return to initial position at all times, return after one battle, or always memorize its spot), or set how your turns work (manually, semi-manually, or always base it on your characters' speed stats.).
• Save - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/save.png)
  Self-explanitory, lets you save your game. However, you can only select it freely on the world map, otherwise you have to use an Inn (you can say no to sleeping and still save), or a save statue.
• Money in this game is called "Ragu", and is the main inspiration for the title of this LP. You use it to buy stuff, naturally.
• And the screen also tells you how which day you're on in the game's story. There are fifteen in the main game.
  And an unlockable sixteenth.

Now that we've done that, let's walk around a little... and get into a battle!
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/p-battlescreen-kbee.png)
Aww, just one little Killer Bee. He dies in one turn in two hits. But the important thing here is the battle menu!

• Attack - Has your character attack with their equipped weapon. There are two kinds of weapons in the game - front row weapons, which lose a bit of attack power if you're in the back row, and back row weapons which have the same attack power from either distance. All front row weapons are capable of critical hits, and all but one back row weapon doesn't. I'll be explaining each weapon type when we encounter a character that can equip them - some of them even have weapon types specifically for them!
  
  In any case, Legin and Palazzo can both equip daggers, front row weapons of okay power. Neither are equipped with one right now, though.
  Legin comes equipped with a rifle, a single-target back row weapon. He can also use machine guns, which hit all enemies, which is nice for random encounters with multiple creatures - on the downside, they reduce your speed a little while rifles and daggers don't.
  Palazzo comes equipped with a rod, easily having the crappiest attack power in the game. They do, however, raise your Spirit, so they have some use. They're also never non-elemental. I usually don't have one equipped, though. Reason being because of Palazzo's other weapon - the Palazzo-only scythe. A back row weapon, which like the rod, is always elemental, and has okay attack power. Sure, he won't be using it much, but there are some situations I'll have it in use.
• Mantra - Goes to a list of mantras. Simply select and cast. Since we're on the subject of them in battle, let's talk about elements and how they work.
  There are eight elements, three sets of two which oppose each other, and a neutral two: Fire (IG) and Water (AQU), Lightning (TOU) and Wind (TEO), Light (SOA) and Dark (SERE), Earth (PRA), and Void (NIHI). There's also healing and effect magic, but that doesn't count as an element.
  
  Also associated with each element other than Earth is a status effect that can be caused by certain spells of that element. Fire has Burning, with which you lose HP at the end of every turn. Water has Freezing, which immobilates you. Lightning has Shock, which is basically the confusion effect - it causes you to physically attack allies or enemies and be uncontrollable. Wind has Float, which is actually beneficial, Earth attacks will miss you, and I think it reduces damage from Void spells... but there is a downside - you can't crit while floating. Light has Regeneration, which has you recover HP at the end of every turn. Dark has the VERY nasty Pollution status that not only keeps you from casting Mantras, but cuts all of your stats in half. Lastly, Void has Madness, which ups your critical rate and attack power at the cost of only being able to attack. Most of them can be canceled by Panacaeas or hitting the afflicted person with the opposing element, except Pollution, which requires a Purifier, which makes it all the yuckier. Wearing armor of the same element as the effect will prevent it.
• Item - Has your character select and use a consumable item.
• Defend - Has your character guard, which reduces the effect of a physical attack used on them. Can have a strategic significance against certain enemies/bosses.
• Escape - Pressing Left or Right allows you to access this option, which has your character start to flee. Selecting this for eveyone if you want to run helps the rate a bit.
• Turn order - Pressing X will allow you to switch your characters' turns around. You can even do this in order by speed mode.
• Lastly, pressing Y will switch your character's row. This can provide interesting things, like putting your front row attacker in the back if they're going to cast something or use an item, and then put them back in the front to attack on the next turn. Best part, you don't waste turns doing it!

Anyway, enough horsing around, let's get moving west.

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-5.png)
This town here is Oriab, where Dr. Muench waits for us. But for right now, we'll ignore these places and keep going west, until...
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-6.png)
We reach this place on this little penensula. This is Eremia's Manor. Let's go insi-- oh dear.
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-8.png)
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-9.png)
Hmm, doesn't one of these guys look familiar? In any case, they jump around and sneak into the Manor, and we're returned control. The guards will tell you where Eremia is:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-10.png)
Second floor, it would seem.
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-11.png)
Up these stairs... and you'll see Eremia in plain view.

Eremia: Ah, Palazzo! I expect the Doctor sent you. Come for the Grail, have you?
Palazzo: Indeed, Milord. Dr. Muench requires it for his research.
Eremia: The terrible energy of the Lago Stones, eh?
Legin: Yessir!
Eremia: Then there's no way around it. Can't have that old fool risking life and limb in the name of research, eh?
Palazzo: We can take it, then?
Eremia: Provided you promise to take good care of it, of course! Much of the Grail's power is still unknown to us. Don't start banging it about on a lark, you hear?
Palazzo (nod): Of course.
Eremia: Come!

He leads you over to a locked door in the southwest that leads into a little side room and another doorway:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-12.png)
We just head in and...
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-13.png)
Oh, goddamn it.

Boy in Red: Quick! To the roof!

The two head out, leaving Palazzo and Legin with a slightly stunned Eremia.

Palazzo: Milord! Are you all right?
Eremia: ...the Grail! They took the Grail!
Legin: They WHAT?
Eremia: Guards! GUARDS! Come, damn you! Come!

We go back out, watching the crooks run off and Eremia give chase. The Lord of the Manor has stopped where you first talked to him, though, and is VERY insistent that you go after the two:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-15.png)
There are two ways to pursue them - going back downstairs and out, or heading to the roof via a path to the right and through another room:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-16.png)
The duo jump off, though, and you're just going to have to go back downstairs and out anyway.

In any case, you get a scene with the thieves when you head out:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-17.png)
They basically land while the Grail hits the ground, something flashes, and it begins to rain - something that's NOT common on this world in these days because of the air pollution. The guard dogs give chase, and so do Surlent and Legin, who catch up to the two at the gate, dogs keeping them at bay.

Armored Boy: C'mon, Marisa! Do something! They're coming! They're coming!

And there you have it, the name I gave Dune for this LP. If there were no votes on a particular name, I would be renaming a character with a Touhou name - I'll leave you guys to guess what the names of the other three would have been. :yukkuri:

Legin: You lousy, thieving scumbags! That Grail is a public treasure! Return it immediately!
Armored Boy: THIEVING? We're Tre-Tre-Tre...!
Marisa (though the game returns to calling him Boy in Red here): TREASURE HUNTERS! Men of refinement! And taste!

...::) ...In any case, the two suddenly jump out of the dogs' custody and escape to the map.

Legin: Aw hell! They got away!
Palazzo: Curious... Is that rain?
Legin: They dropped the Grail during their escape. Maybe the impact...
Palazzo: What could they possibly have needed the Grail for?
Legin: Don't worry, Mr. Surlent. We'll get 'em yet. Now we just have to break the news to Lord Eremia.
Palazzo: Very well.

The two head back up to the front door and meet with Eremia.

Eremia: I can't believe the Grail was stolen... Right under my own nose, no less! The cheek of it, bigods!
Palazzo: I fear they've escaped, milord. My deepest apologies.
Eremia: Don't worry about it! Those good-for-nothing guards are to blame here. Let us hope that the Doctor's studies will not be hampered by this, eh?
Legin: Don't worry. We'll inform Dr. Muench immediately.
Palazzo: And take steps to recover the Grail.
Eremia: Your efforts are appreciated. What of your research, though?
Legin: I'm sure the Doctor will know what to do. Let's go, Mr. Palazzo!

The two head out and we're treated to this ominous message:
Only 15 days remain until the Cataclysm.

We return to the world map, where it's still raining. It tapers off after a moment, and we head to Oriab now.

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-18.png)
Muench told us to meet him at the Inn, which is that building in the upper left. Going upstairs from there and then going into the first door leads to Dr. Muench's room:
(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/pday1-19.png)
Palazzo: Eremia's Grail was stolen.
Muench: Stolen? ...well, no matter.
Palazzo: But surely the energy of the stone...
Muench: I haven't finished talking yet! Listen, you! The Grail is part of a set of three relics called the Sealing Receptacles. Each Receptacle contains a bound Netherworld spirit which empowers it.
Legin: So there are still two others like it?
Muench (nod): Exactly! Exactly! Palazzo! Your master should know where the other two Receptacles are.
Palazzo: Then I shall confer with him.
Muench: Be snappy about it! As long as that Stone remains unshielded, we're all in grave danger!
Legin: Are we really going all the way to Thor Volcano to see Solon? Sounds like we'd better hit my dad up for his boat again.
Palazzo: Is he still in his laboratory? Perhaps we should talk to him now.

And with that, you can head back out. Before we go talk to Legin's dad, though, we can do a bit of looking around town now (we could have also done that when we first went into town, but hey!). First thing we'll hit up is the Forge, which is just west of the Inn - in fact there's a side door near the reservation desk that leads outside and right to its front door!

(http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/oriabarmoryv1.png)
Nuts, I only have enough money for either a Ragu Knife or a Buckler. I buy a Buckler and put it onto Surlent, as he's got a one-handed weapon on him at the moment while Legin's got his rifle. Now that I've done that, I'll explain shop menus! BV

• Buy - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/buy.png)
  This is where you buy the items for your characters. Consumable items simply go into your inventory, while when you look at equipment, if your character is able to equip it, they'll laugh, if not they just stand there. Up arrows show an upgrade, down shows a downgrade, a - shows it's got the same stats, and an E shows you already have it on.
• Sell - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/sell.png)
  This is where you sell items back to the merchant, as per usual. I think you sell for 75% of the base price? something like that.
• Equip - (http://i768.photobucket.com/albums/xx328/zmsimages/Lets Play Treasure of the Rudras/equip.png)
  It's the same as the equip screen you access from the main menu, only confined to the shop.
• Exit - Leave the shop. Pressing B at the main screen does this, too.

In any case, now we... go back to the Inn, sleep and save! We'll finish exploring the town and talk to Legin's dad next time, and those are only the first things we'll be doing.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Gesh86 on June 03, 2011, 03:28:43 PM

It's very odd that you can use inns in a game that only counts days when the story progresses. Like how long do you stay there? "Let's rest here for 10 minutes and we'll all be good as new!"

I'm guessing Ciel's Touhou-name would have been Byakuren. Palazzo's is a bit tougher...there's many that would fit for one reason or the other, but I'd say Patchouli. No idea for Axehead.

Title: Re: Cycle-breaking for Fun and Pasta Sauce! Let's Play Treasure of the Rudras!
Post by: Chaore on June 03, 2011, 05:07:43 PM

No wonder Dune's a thief- He had to live his life with a girl's name. :V