Dawn [Inferno] // Luke fon Fabre (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heliokleptic) wrote2011-04-22 02:54 am
heliokleptic) wrote2011-04-22 02:54 am
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Tales of the Abyss Playthrough #2
Yaaay, I have gotten past the giant horrible plot hump and next time can commence with PLAYING.
St. Binah
-The anteater mount things sure SOUND a lot like horses.
-Luke: “Hey, quit making plans without talking to me first!”
Tear: “Grow up.”
-Luke says sorry to Rose when he wants to hide in her wagon to get into Engeve. I am pretty sure this is the first time he asked for something in a polite way without being scolded first…
-Luke complains about Tear telling him even obvious things, Guy notes that “She’s already got you whipped, huh Luke? Princess Natalia’s going to be pretty jealous.” Tear dots and then hugs his arm. Guy apologizes and has to twitch on the ground for a while.
-There is a little scene where a little boy in St. Binah asks Jade to tell ‘the Necromancer’ that his dad is dead and he wants him to bring him back to life, this provokes a discussion on people wanting their own dead relatives returned to life, and Guy mentions his family and everyone in his household is dead pretty casually. Luke is RIGHT THERE but doesn’t comment on it, and later is surprised that Guy’s parents are dead (at Coral Castle).
-McGovern (Mayor of St. Binah) isn’t allowed to restrict the Oracle Knights actions without a direct order from Peony, because the Oracle Knights are considered Scorers. Except, you know. Scorers are more like harmless priests and the Oracle Knights are more like Templars. That is a LOT of power the Order has.
-Jade is avoiding a promotion to Lt. General.
-“The Six God General’s objective” skit
-Early on, Luke doesn’t mind resting for Ion at all.
Jade: “My, he has a kind side after all.”
Guy: "That’s the good thing about Luke. And he’s equally rude and demanding to both servants and those above him".
Luke: “Sh-Shut up!”
-The Sephiroth are the world's ten most powerful fon slots. "They're the planet's vital points. Places where memory particles, a kind of planetary fuel, concentrate and fonons gather easily."
-Luke immediately protests that he knew that because by now the team just automatically launches into an explanation whenever he asks a question.
-SUDDENLY.
Luke: “Oh, hey, Jade, how are you feeling? Is your body okay, I mean, with that fon slot seal and all?”
Jade: “My strength is somewhat diminished. My body’s fon slots have been sealed, after all.”
Mieu: “You’re so considerate, Master!”
Luke: /// “N-no I’m not! It’d just be a pain if this old man keeled over on us, that’s all…”
Guy: “Awww, you’re blushing, Luke!”
Luke: “I am not!!”
This is why Luke is never nice, he gets teased if he is. Thx Guy.
-Jade suspects Ion is a replica from the beginning too.
-Aaand that Guy isn't 'just a servant'. God Jade, you're obnoxious. LET PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SECRETS.
Field, North Rugnica Plains
-“What kind of girl…?” skit
-Luke worries briefly about Anise but accepts it automatically when he’s told she’s all right.
Fubras River
-After wanting to get out of his father’s manor his entire life, Luke reaaally wants to get back. I guess working all day every day and fighting for your life regularly isn’t that much fun!
-Van didn’t teach Luke anything but ‘brute force’. Basically how to cut things and a single fonic arte. Jade criticizes this, but it’s likely Van just didn’t care because the replica was temporary. Asch clearly has a much better idea of battle strategy.
-“Watch out for water” skit.
-Daath is on the Padimiyan continent.
-“Natural disasters” skit
-On Yulia’s second hymn: “I’ve applied a vibration identical to the inherent vibration of the miasma. It’s a temporary shield, it won’t last long.”
-Though apparently being a hymnist isn’t that uncommon (even though we never see others?), Yulia’s fonic hymns are considered rumors, or thought impossible to use because they are too difficult to decipher. Only Tear and Van know them, and Van isn’t a hymnist, so it’s straight up a Tear Only thing.
-Ion and Luke stop Jade from killing an unconscious Arietta.
Field, North Rugnica Plains
-“To Kaitzur” skit
-Guy: “Normally, fonic hymns are the incantation of a fonic arte, combined with a melody. They’re not as strong as fonic artes.” So if it is effectively a fonic arte with a tune, why is it weaker…
-Guy: "When one who truly appreciates the symbolism and meaning sings a verse, it draws a map to hidden wisdom."
-The hymns themselves are handed down among Yulia's descendants.
-The Grand Fonic Hymn is the hymn Yulia sang to use Lorelei’s power.
Kaitzur
-Guard: *refuses to let Anise past the boarder*
Anise: "You better watch your back >\"
Ion: "Anise, Luke can hear you."
Anise: "Oh! It's my darling! ♥ My prince! ♥"
Ion knows what Anise is all about.
-Luke drags Guy out in the middle of the night to practice. He DOES apologize though.
Luke: “Sorry for dragging you all the way out here in the middle of the night.”
Guy: “And what can I do for you, dear Master Luke?”
Luke: “Give me a hand with some sword training.”
Guy: “What? What’s up all of a sudden…?”
Luke: “I’m still not sure I can swing my sword against a human opponent without hesitating. I want to practice to get over that. You and I are the only ones who use swords. And besides, this is kind of embarrassing. You’re the only one I can ask.”
Guy: “Luke… All right. I’ll give you a hand. Learn yourself a new move or something and get right over that fear!”
Luke: “Yeah! Let’s do it!”
Guy: “Ready when you are!”
Luke has learned Sonic Thrust.
-Guy still freaks out just WATCHING Anise glomp Luke.
-When Asch attacks he goes STRAIGHT for Luke. Bitter much?
-Asch has super leaping abilities.
-“Asch the Bloody” skit
-I seriously think that Jade is at least almost as responsible for Akzeriuth as Luke was, even though he’s never really called on it. Jade knew since forever that Luke was a replica and Asch was his original. He didn’t say anything because he knew that while Van was ‘up to something’, to be fair it is PRETTY HARD TO ANTICIPATE ‘destroying a Sephiroth and subsequently an entire city’. BUT! Had he told Luke the truth instead of sitting on it even when it became obvious that the lie couldn’t hold forever, Luke prooobably would not have been shut off to the team around Akzeriuth time and maybe everything would’ve been different!
-The Seventh Fonston is part of the score Yulia read for the world 2000 years ago. The Score was so long it took up seven fonstones, each the size of a mountain. These stones eventually broke apart and fell to the earth or became the fon belt.
-War was started when Malkuth and Kimlasca both tried to claim the fonstones that fell to the earth.
-Yulia herself hid the seventh fonstone after she read the score. Likely since it foretells the end of the world.
-Possession of fonstones must be a big deal because not every fonstone can access all of the information. Having a single fonstone probably would not mean being able to read everyone’s score, just as how, later, the fonstone with Luke’s prediction about Akzeriuth cuts off. However, there must be duplicates? Because Luke’s score is also on the large fonstone in Daath, and I think on the seventh fonstone as well. Additionally, how does everyone get their score read on their birthday if all of the information can’t be accessed from one place?
-Skit: “Ordinary little girl”
Field, South Rugnica Plains
-“A lady’s secret” skit
Kaitzur Port
-“Arietta Attacks!” skit
-Having been over this part of the game many times now, it makes more sense. Asch enlists Arietta, Dist and Sync to help him open Luke’s fon slots in such a way that Asch can talk to Luke through their identical frequencies. Van may command the God General’s, but they clearly move pretty freely on their own outside of the ‘big plot’, and Van obviously doesn’t tell everyone everything.
Arietta assists because she wants to get revenge on the people who killed her mother. Dist does probably because Dist never really cares about anything but Jade. I’m not sure what Sync’s motives are, he could even be acting in a spy-like capacity. Asch, of course, has decided to stop Van and wants to enlist the replica’s help but proceeds to thoroughly suck at that because Asch can’t keep a lid on his temper.
Van, meanwhile, seems genuinely surprised to find the God General’s working against him, even if it’s only against his ‘nice guy’ façade. But I think at this point he is writing it off as Asch’s anger at the replica getting ahold of him and hasn’t yet realized Asch has turned on him.
-“To go or not to go” skit
-Half of the party decides to go to Choral Castle based on the kidnapped chief’s Score which said calamity should be avoided. It’s really kind of bizarre to see a cast of strong, level headed characters who respond to fate with “Oh, I guess we have to go do that, then!”
Field, South Rugnica Plains
-“To Choral Castle” skit
Choral Castle
-Mieu can feel monsters
-“Who needs memories?” skit
-“Dream plans” skit
-Guy was on the right track to guessing that something happened to Luke at Choral Castle, though I bet he was going to guess mind wiping or experimentation over fomicry.
-But then Anise jumps on his back. He has a very slow reaction to this! Stares at her hand for several sections before seriously flipping out.
-Luke didn't know Guy's parents were dead until it comes up at Choral Castle.
-Guy mentions that Jade ‘sounds nervous’ regarding finding the fomicry machine. Jade also seems to be trying really hard to look for some way to be wrong, which is pretty interesting, as he doesn’t show this reluctance that Ion is probably a replica. I think in any other situation Jade would have hopped to the obvious conclusion ages ago.
-Despite his flip out, Guy still wants to know what is up with Jade, but “Just as you don’t want to talk about your past, there are some things I’d rather not talk about as well.” EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE IN YOUR PARTY, JADE.
-Skit “What are the Six God-General’s After”
-Guy seems genuinely worried about what the God-General’s are after here
-Guy doesn't show any interest in fonic technology when it's possible it's even remotely connected to Luke.
-Fought and defeated Arietta, Van takes her back, Ion makes a point of the fact that she will be tried and given a punishment, I think meaning this for Jade who keeps trying to shank her while she’s unconscious.
-Fought the ghost sword, followed up by “Was that…” skit
Kaitzur Port
-They use carrier pigeons for messages. So no fonic telephones, huh?
-“How to cure Guy” skit
-Count Almandine didn’t know Luke lost his memories, I suppose it was kept close to the chest.
-Luke is just like yah I’m bringing the Fon Master and an enemy colonel with me \o/ Let dad know, k? I wonder if Jade was just hoping to not announce himself at all. Probably…
En Route to Chesadonia, Katsbert Ferry
-Hearing mysterious glowy voices is so common for Luke that he goes on about his day without even questioning it.
-“Awaken… Hurry… Heed my voice…” I awaken to what, Lorelei?
-Skit: “Look at all that water!”
-Guy: Do you remember when the two of us first met, Luke?
Luke: I told you, I don’t remember any of that. That was before I was kidnapped.
G: …Yeah. You’re right. I mean, you’re completely different.
L: Huh?
G: Ah, I’m just glad you’re you.
-The first time I took notes on the above scene, I was like, what, Guy didn’t like Asch’s personality at all? But now I am like, what, aren’t you used to hearing about how different you used to be yet, Luke? I think this is a case of early canon info dumping.
-Anise asked what Luke thinks of Tear. “She’s annoying.” “That’s not very nice. But I guess that means I still have a chance, sooo I’m kind of happy… ♥ Heh heh. …I love you, Luke! ♥” Hahaha, she actually gets Luke to blush. Gosh he is so affection starved.
-It finally occurs to Tear that having to relearn everything about life is balls. This is one of my favorite Tear moments, actually.
-Courtesy of Tear: "Combining fonons, basic particles of sound which make up all matter, with memory particles from the planet's core yields an enormous amount of energy.
A device was made to supply fuel to the world by passing those particles through the fon belt. The Planet Storm.
The planet Storm caused a mutation in the six fonon elements and the memory particles. And that was the birth of the Seventh Fonon."
-Jade asks Luke "What would you do, if you weren't really you?" And then quickly brushes it aside when Luke is confused. It's rather cute. Jade's very genuinely concerned about this. I kind of wonder how the big reveal would have gone if Luke hadn't screwed himself over with everyone by destroying a city.
-And then follows it up with "Someday you may hate me enough to want to kill me. ...or perhaps you already do." Oh Jade D=
-Why exactly does Lorelei feel compelled to force Luke to use hyperresonance? (Three years later this still seems really random).
-HOWEVER, Van really seems to know how to talk Luke through shooting a death beam out of his hands. I wonder if he taught Asch the same way?
-Oh wow, I only just noticed that part of the boat in front of Luke is singed and broken after Van talks him through the hyperresonance. They REALLY could have made that more clear…
-Van, why is your voice so soothing and easy to trust…
Chesedonia
-Skit: “I’ll be a hero…!”
-Skit: “Almost home.”
-Skit: “The center of trade.”
-York has a mouse on his head. I never noticed this.
-Anise so jealous of Noir going after Luke.
-I like how Tear is the one that catches the theft, when Anise, Jade, and Guy are all way more worldly than she is.
-Guy knows what is good for trade in Baticul. I bet he picks up some extra cash that way when he travels.
-Van can cook! And he taught Tear. Hoho.
-On Auldrant, you can make fried chicken with fish.
-Jade finds the possibility of reading someone's diary 'enjoyable'.
Aston's Mansion, Chesedonia
-Aston is the head of the Chesedonian Merchant's Guild?
-The Fon Master (The original Ion, or one of the earlier fon masters?) helped with the establishment of Chesedonia on the boarder, in return the Merchant's Guild contributes large amounts of money to Daath. The Order also enforces the recognition of Daath as an autonomous state.
-Considering the size of Daath, I doubt they have much in the way of export. Religion and political neutrality is probably where all their money comes from.
-...no one listens to Dist. Ever.
-Dist has a revenge journal
En Route to Baticul
-Time for another info dump for Luke!
-"When a certain amount of a particular fonon gathers together, it becomes sentient". This is interesting, now that I think about it, because what they are basically saying is that if you get enough fonons in one place, they develop a mind of their own. If there were TWO giant lumps of Seventh Fonons, would there be two Loreleis? Do Shadow, Rem, Ifrit and such actually exist, as in are there aggregate sentiences of those fonons floating around somewhere, or do they only hypothetically exist, as in “We know this would happen if there WERE giant lumps of the Fifth Fonon, but currently there aren’t”? It’s basically like saying we COULD have a theoretically infinite number of godlike beings, but atm we don’t.
-Somehow no two frequencies are ever the same. I imagine they get down to realllly close measurements though, considering they went to pi by like, twenty numbers.
-Isofons don't exist unless artificially created.
-Isofons also create hyperresonances for some reason, so it could be hyperresonances are not strictly limited to the Seventh Fonon, but strictly limited to a certain interaction between isofons, buuut it doesn’t apply to the first six fonons because of how they are wielded? Unsure…
-Replicas are not generally isofons, as in they have different fonon frequencies. I imagine Luke is the first and best replica because of this? Perhaps it also explains whey he and Asch outlasted all other replicas.
-Jade says you can't produce isofons in fomicry, meaning however they make isofons artificially (which has been done often enough that no one is surprised by it) it isn't through fomicry. I'm guessing there is a way to create something with a specific frequency? According to Jade, isofon research is being looked into for weapons development, but it's still in the theoretical stages.
-Mieu can’t swim.
-Skit: “The Oracle Knights Attack!”
-Barrelow X has an AI which doesn't surprise anyone.
-...but not a very good one.
-LAMEST MINIGAME
-Jade has a photographic memory? Wouldn't surprise me.
Baticul
-Goldberg is commander of the 1st Divison, Kimlasca-Lanvaldear Royal Forces.
-"King Ingobert the Sixth"
This reminds me, isn't Lanvaldear the family name of the Royalty? I wonder why they never go by it. If Luke became King would it become Kimlasca-Fabre? Or would he take on the name Lanvaldear?
-"Brigadier General Jozette Cecille"
-"Ionian Sergeant Anise Tatlin, Oracle Knights Fon Master Guard"
-Jade had a battle against Cecille in Northern Chesedonia. Jade won.
-Considering that “tensions along the border are greater now than at the time of the Hod War”, Jade, Cecille and Goldberg all act pretty chill with each other.
-Skit: “Who taught Tear to cook”
-Baticul was built in a depression in the ground created when a fonstone fell from the sky.
-Darkwings were originally the circus troupe "Black Dream"
-Jade: "Anyone who interferes with others' romances should get kicked by a horse and die." >D
-Skit: “Impressions of Baticul”
-Luke BARGES IN to stop Mohs from talking to Ingobert about war. Once he is back in a place where he can boss people around, he is happy to do it!
-Skit: “The Letter”
Fabre Manor, Baticul
-For all that Duke Fabre has a horrible reputation, what with Guy's past and the fact that he basically ignored Luke growing up, as far as I can recall he never acts unreasonable in the game. He's genuinely glad that Luke returns safely, genuinely glad to see Asch again, he doesn't do anything to Guy when he finds out who he is, Pere keeps his job though it must have been Pere that brought Guy to the manor. He doesn't do anything to Tear other than suspect her (reasonable) when she teleports Luke halfway across the world. He's distant but never really takes an offensive tone.
-Natalia: Luke!
Luke: Ugh…
N: What kind of attitude is that? Do you realize how worried I was?!
Guy: Oh, well, you know… Luke’s just embarrassed, Your Highness.
N: Guy! You have some explaining to do, too! I told you to come tell me before you went searching for Luke! Why did you leave without speaking to me?
G: You know a servant like me can’t get into castle!
N: Why are you backing away?
G: You know why!
N: Once I marry Luke, you’ll be my servant too. Get used to it.
G: I can’t!
N: So you’re so strange. Look how pathetic you are. I don’t know what the maids see in you.
N: …I’m sorry to hear about Van.
L: What’s going on with Master Van?
N: Oh, my father didn’t tell you? They suspect Van of being behind your disappearance.
Tear: So that’s why he asked if I was conspiring with Van.
N: Oh…? Who’s this…?
Luke! Don’t tell me you’ve taken advantage of one of your servant girls!
L: What? There’s no way I’d touch a chick as cold as that! Besides, she’s not a servant! She’s Master Van’s sister.
N: …Oh! You’re the one who caused this commotion in the first place. “Tear” was it?
L: Enough about that! Tell me what’s going to happen to Master Van!
Jade: Van will likely be as soon as he arrives in Baticul. Worst case, I presume he’d be executed.
Anise: Oh no! Ion! The commandant’s in danger!
Ion: Yes. We must issue a protest from Daath at once.
L: Natalia! Master Van wasn’t involved! Please, talk to Uncle about it! You’ve got to save him!
N: …All right. I can’t turn down a request from you, Luke.
In exchange, please hurry and remember that promise you made.
L: I told you, I don’t remember proposing to you when I was a little kid!
N: Yes, yes. Your memory loss. But how romantic would it be if the first thing you remembered was your proposal to me? ♥
L: ///
…Hurry up and go talk to Uncle about Master Van!
N: Honestly, you can be so mean! Fine.
-Skit: “The Upper Class?”
-Luke doesn't like listening to banter much.
-Tear swears by "Yulia and Lorelei"
-Jade recognized Pere.
-Skit: “What a wonderful mansion!”
-Skit: “A sword with a history”
-God the maids totally just abuse Guy for lulz. “You say the most charming things without even trying, don’t you? ♥
-The maids give Luke a morning weather report from the Score…
-Skit: “To the Castle”
-Luke returns to Baticul on: Gnomeday, Gnome-Decan 2, ND2018
-Auldrant has 13 months in a year, each month is roughly sixty days long. Luke left on Rem Decan 23, was gone through Sylph Decan and Undine Decan, and returned on the second of Gnome Decan. This equals up to (roughly) 160 days for just the first part of the game. DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT, DID IT?
Baticul
-Luke returns to the castle to get his An Hero mission and speech from Van. Covered already in memory 3 and memory 8.
-What exactly is the idea behind letting Van free to help Luke? I know it gets Luke to co-operate, but seriously, if you actually think he's a threat, don't let him walk out. I suppose the score must say something of Van's involvement in the destruction of Akzeriuth.
-Though in addition, since the letter contained the request for aid to Akzeriuth, that means basically Akzeriuth was being slowly poisoned by the miasma for that entire first part of the game and then some. I think in that time Malkuth could have just found a better way to the city.
-I like how kidnapping Ion is pretty much a matter of “Hey Ion, walk this way”.
-Skit: “Taking precautions”
-Skit: “Just ask Guy”
-Guy has always wanted to take Luke to see Miyagi-sensei =X Guy probably came here a lot to practice the sword maybe?
-The FS cores are unique to Kimlasca, this is the first time Jade encountered them.
-Stay at the Inn and you get a little skit about Anise’s habit of collecting foreign recipes because cooking is part of her training to be a bride! Luke is just like “K. cook for me sometime”
-On Jade's spear: "It's a fusion arte that utilizes the contamination effect."
"The Contamination effect is an effect where the fonons and elements of matter separate and refuse together."
-Guy notes that 'this is like the fusion property of materials used in synthesis', must be a part of fonic technology?
-Because the fonons and elements that form up organic and inorganic material are different, Jade can temporarily fuse the spear into the outer layer of his right arm.
Doing this is dangerous because typically the body rejects the effect, it can cause mental damage, even insanity.
-Along with rumors that Jade collects corpses to use in experiments to revive the dead, there are ones that say the entire third division is made up of undead.
-When they plan to leave Baticul for Akzerituh 'Oracle ships are seen watching the Central Ocean'. It's seen as an attempt by the Grand Maestro faction to interfere. It's really ironic that Jade didn't see this coming, actually. He should have known that Mohs, above all else, would uphold the score. Mohs has no reason to prevent Luke from getting to Akzeriuth.
Fonons
First Fonon is Dark (Shadow)
Second is Earth (Gnome)
Third is Wind (Sylph)
Fourth is Water (Undine)
Fifth is Fire (Efreet)
Sixth is Light (Rem)
Seventh is Sound (Lorelei)
Calander
Rem Decan
Sylph Decan
Undine Decan
Gnome Decan
Ifrit Decan
Shadow Decan
Shadow Redecan
Ifrit Redecan
Gniome Redecan
Undine Redecan
Sylph Redecan
Luna Redecan
Lorelei Decan
Days of the Week
Remday
Lunaday
Ifritday
Undineday
Sylphday
Loreleiday
Gnomeday
St. Binah
-The anteater mount things sure SOUND a lot like horses.
-Luke: “Hey, quit making plans without talking to me first!”
Tear: “Grow up.”
-Luke says sorry to Rose when he wants to hide in her wagon to get into Engeve. I am pretty sure this is the first time he asked for something in a polite way without being scolded first…
-Luke complains about Tear telling him even obvious things, Guy notes that “She’s already got you whipped, huh Luke? Princess Natalia’s going to be pretty jealous.” Tear dots and then hugs his arm. Guy apologizes and has to twitch on the ground for a while.
-There is a little scene where a little boy in St. Binah asks Jade to tell ‘the Necromancer’ that his dad is dead and he wants him to bring him back to life, this provokes a discussion on people wanting their own dead relatives returned to life, and Guy mentions his family and everyone in his household is dead pretty casually. Luke is RIGHT THERE but doesn’t comment on it, and later is surprised that Guy’s parents are dead (at Coral Castle).
-McGovern (Mayor of St. Binah) isn’t allowed to restrict the Oracle Knights actions without a direct order from Peony, because the Oracle Knights are considered Scorers. Except, you know. Scorers are more like harmless priests and the Oracle Knights are more like Templars. That is a LOT of power the Order has.
-Jade is avoiding a promotion to Lt. General.
-“The Six God General’s objective” skit
-Early on, Luke doesn’t mind resting for Ion at all.
Jade: “My, he has a kind side after all.”
Guy: "That’s the good thing about Luke. And he’s equally rude and demanding to both servants and those above him".
Luke: “Sh-Shut up!”
-The Sephiroth are the world's ten most powerful fon slots. "They're the planet's vital points. Places where memory particles, a kind of planetary fuel, concentrate and fonons gather easily."
-Luke immediately protests that he knew that because by now the team just automatically launches into an explanation whenever he asks a question.
-SUDDENLY.
Luke: “Oh, hey, Jade, how are you feeling? Is your body okay, I mean, with that fon slot seal and all?”
Jade: “My strength is somewhat diminished. My body’s fon slots have been sealed, after all.”
Mieu: “You’re so considerate, Master!”
Luke: /// “N-no I’m not! It’d just be a pain if this old man keeled over on us, that’s all…”
Guy: “Awww, you’re blushing, Luke!”
Luke: “I am not!!”
This is why Luke is never nice, he gets teased if he is. Thx Guy.
-Jade suspects Ion is a replica from the beginning too.
-Aaand that Guy isn't 'just a servant'. God Jade, you're obnoxious. LET PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SECRETS.
Field, North Rugnica Plains
-“What kind of girl…?” skit
-Luke worries briefly about Anise but accepts it automatically when he’s told she’s all right.
Fubras River
-After wanting to get out of his father’s manor his entire life, Luke reaaally wants to get back. I guess working all day every day and fighting for your life regularly isn’t that much fun!
-Van didn’t teach Luke anything but ‘brute force’. Basically how to cut things and a single fonic arte. Jade criticizes this, but it’s likely Van just didn’t care because the replica was temporary. Asch clearly has a much better idea of battle strategy.
-“Watch out for water” skit.
-Daath is on the Padimiyan continent.
-“Natural disasters” skit
-On Yulia’s second hymn: “I’ve applied a vibration identical to the inherent vibration of the miasma. It’s a temporary shield, it won’t last long.”
-Though apparently being a hymnist isn’t that uncommon (even though we never see others?), Yulia’s fonic hymns are considered rumors, or thought impossible to use because they are too difficult to decipher. Only Tear and Van know them, and Van isn’t a hymnist, so it’s straight up a Tear Only thing.
-Ion and Luke stop Jade from killing an unconscious Arietta.
Field, North Rugnica Plains
-“To Kaitzur” skit
-Guy: “Normally, fonic hymns are the incantation of a fonic arte, combined with a melody. They’re not as strong as fonic artes.” So if it is effectively a fonic arte with a tune, why is it weaker…
-Guy: "When one who truly appreciates the symbolism and meaning sings a verse, it draws a map to hidden wisdom."
-The hymns themselves are handed down among Yulia's descendants.
-The Grand Fonic Hymn is the hymn Yulia sang to use Lorelei’s power.
Kaitzur
-Guard: *refuses to let Anise past the boarder*
Anise: "You better watch your back >\"
Ion: "Anise, Luke can hear you."
Anise: "Oh! It's my darling! ♥ My prince! ♥"
Ion knows what Anise is all about.
-Luke drags Guy out in the middle of the night to practice. He DOES apologize though.
Luke: “Sorry for dragging you all the way out here in the middle of the night.”
Guy: “And what can I do for you, dear Master Luke?”
Luke: “Give me a hand with some sword training.”
Guy: “What? What’s up all of a sudden…?”
Luke: “I’m still not sure I can swing my sword against a human opponent without hesitating. I want to practice to get over that. You and I are the only ones who use swords. And besides, this is kind of embarrassing. You’re the only one I can ask.”
Guy: “Luke… All right. I’ll give you a hand. Learn yourself a new move or something and get right over that fear!”
Luke: “Yeah! Let’s do it!”
Guy: “Ready when you are!”
Luke has learned Sonic Thrust.
-Guy still freaks out just WATCHING Anise glomp Luke.
-When Asch attacks he goes STRAIGHT for Luke. Bitter much?
-Asch has super leaping abilities.
-“Asch the Bloody” skit
-I seriously think that Jade is at least almost as responsible for Akzeriuth as Luke was, even though he’s never really called on it. Jade knew since forever that Luke was a replica and Asch was his original. He didn’t say anything because he knew that while Van was ‘up to something’, to be fair it is PRETTY HARD TO ANTICIPATE ‘destroying a Sephiroth and subsequently an entire city’. BUT! Had he told Luke the truth instead of sitting on it even when it became obvious that the lie couldn’t hold forever, Luke prooobably would not have been shut off to the team around Akzeriuth time and maybe everything would’ve been different!
-The Seventh Fonston is part of the score Yulia read for the world 2000 years ago. The Score was so long it took up seven fonstones, each the size of a mountain. These stones eventually broke apart and fell to the earth or became the fon belt.
-War was started when Malkuth and Kimlasca both tried to claim the fonstones that fell to the earth.
-Yulia herself hid the seventh fonstone after she read the score. Likely since it foretells the end of the world.
-Possession of fonstones must be a big deal because not every fonstone can access all of the information. Having a single fonstone probably would not mean being able to read everyone’s score, just as how, later, the fonstone with Luke’s prediction about Akzeriuth cuts off. However, there must be duplicates? Because Luke’s score is also on the large fonstone in Daath, and I think on the seventh fonstone as well. Additionally, how does everyone get their score read on their birthday if all of the information can’t be accessed from one place?
-Skit: “Ordinary little girl”
Field, South Rugnica Plains
-“A lady’s secret” skit
Kaitzur Port
-“Arietta Attacks!” skit
-Having been over this part of the game many times now, it makes more sense. Asch enlists Arietta, Dist and Sync to help him open Luke’s fon slots in such a way that Asch can talk to Luke through their identical frequencies. Van may command the God General’s, but they clearly move pretty freely on their own outside of the ‘big plot’, and Van obviously doesn’t tell everyone everything.
Arietta assists because she wants to get revenge on the people who killed her mother. Dist does probably because Dist never really cares about anything but Jade. I’m not sure what Sync’s motives are, he could even be acting in a spy-like capacity. Asch, of course, has decided to stop Van and wants to enlist the replica’s help but proceeds to thoroughly suck at that because Asch can’t keep a lid on his temper.
Van, meanwhile, seems genuinely surprised to find the God General’s working against him, even if it’s only against his ‘nice guy’ façade. But I think at this point he is writing it off as Asch’s anger at the replica getting ahold of him and hasn’t yet realized Asch has turned on him.
-“To go or not to go” skit
-Half of the party decides to go to Choral Castle based on the kidnapped chief’s Score which said calamity should be avoided. It’s really kind of bizarre to see a cast of strong, level headed characters who respond to fate with “Oh, I guess we have to go do that, then!”
Field, South Rugnica Plains
-“To Choral Castle” skit
Choral Castle
-Mieu can feel monsters
-“Who needs memories?” skit
-“Dream plans” skit
-Guy was on the right track to guessing that something happened to Luke at Choral Castle, though I bet he was going to guess mind wiping or experimentation over fomicry.
-But then Anise jumps on his back. He has a very slow reaction to this! Stares at her hand for several sections before seriously flipping out.
-Luke didn't know Guy's parents were dead until it comes up at Choral Castle.
-Guy mentions that Jade ‘sounds nervous’ regarding finding the fomicry machine. Jade also seems to be trying really hard to look for some way to be wrong, which is pretty interesting, as he doesn’t show this reluctance that Ion is probably a replica. I think in any other situation Jade would have hopped to the obvious conclusion ages ago.
-Despite his flip out, Guy still wants to know what is up with Jade, but “Just as you don’t want to talk about your past, there are some things I’d rather not talk about as well.” EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE IN YOUR PARTY, JADE.
-Skit “What are the Six God-General’s After”
-Guy seems genuinely worried about what the God-General’s are after here
-Guy doesn't show any interest in fonic technology when it's possible it's even remotely connected to Luke.
-Fought and defeated Arietta, Van takes her back, Ion makes a point of the fact that she will be tried and given a punishment, I think meaning this for Jade who keeps trying to shank her while she’s unconscious.
-Fought the ghost sword, followed up by “Was that…” skit
Kaitzur Port
-They use carrier pigeons for messages. So no fonic telephones, huh?
-“How to cure Guy” skit
-Count Almandine didn’t know Luke lost his memories, I suppose it was kept close to the chest.
-Luke is just like yah I’m bringing the Fon Master and an enemy colonel with me \o/ Let dad know, k? I wonder if Jade was just hoping to not announce himself at all. Probably…
En Route to Chesadonia, Katsbert Ferry
-Hearing mysterious glowy voices is so common for Luke that he goes on about his day without even questioning it.
-“Awaken… Hurry… Heed my voice…” I awaken to what, Lorelei?
-Skit: “Look at all that water!”
-Guy: Do you remember when the two of us first met, Luke?
Luke: I told you, I don’t remember any of that. That was before I was kidnapped.
G: …Yeah. You’re right. I mean, you’re completely different.
L: Huh?
G: Ah, I’m just glad you’re you.
-The first time I took notes on the above scene, I was like, what, Guy didn’t like Asch’s personality at all? But now I am like, what, aren’t you used to hearing about how different you used to be yet, Luke? I think this is a case of early canon info dumping.
-Anise asked what Luke thinks of Tear. “She’s annoying.” “That’s not very nice. But I guess that means I still have a chance, sooo I’m kind of happy… ♥ Heh heh. …I love you, Luke! ♥” Hahaha, she actually gets Luke to blush. Gosh he is so affection starved.
-It finally occurs to Tear that having to relearn everything about life is balls. This is one of my favorite Tear moments, actually.
-Courtesy of Tear: "Combining fonons, basic particles of sound which make up all matter, with memory particles from the planet's core yields an enormous amount of energy.
A device was made to supply fuel to the world by passing those particles through the fon belt. The Planet Storm.
The planet Storm caused a mutation in the six fonon elements and the memory particles. And that was the birth of the Seventh Fonon."
-Jade asks Luke "What would you do, if you weren't really you?" And then quickly brushes it aside when Luke is confused. It's rather cute. Jade's very genuinely concerned about this. I kind of wonder how the big reveal would have gone if Luke hadn't screwed himself over with everyone by destroying a city.
-And then follows it up with "Someday you may hate me enough to want to kill me. ...or perhaps you already do." Oh Jade D=
-Why exactly does Lorelei feel compelled to force Luke to use hyperresonance? (Three years later this still seems really random).
-HOWEVER, Van really seems to know how to talk Luke through shooting a death beam out of his hands. I wonder if he taught Asch the same way?
-Oh wow, I only just noticed that part of the boat in front of Luke is singed and broken after Van talks him through the hyperresonance. They REALLY could have made that more clear…
-Van, why is your voice so soothing and easy to trust…
Chesedonia
-Skit: “I’ll be a hero…!”
-Skit: “Almost home.”
-Skit: “The center of trade.”
-York has a mouse on his head. I never noticed this.
-Anise so jealous of Noir going after Luke.
-I like how Tear is the one that catches the theft, when Anise, Jade, and Guy are all way more worldly than she is.
-Guy knows what is good for trade in Baticul. I bet he picks up some extra cash that way when he travels.
-Van can cook! And he taught Tear. Hoho.
-On Auldrant, you can make fried chicken with fish.
-Jade finds the possibility of reading someone's diary 'enjoyable'.
Aston's Mansion, Chesedonia
-Aston is the head of the Chesedonian Merchant's Guild?
-The Fon Master (The original Ion, or one of the earlier fon masters?) helped with the establishment of Chesedonia on the boarder, in return the Merchant's Guild contributes large amounts of money to Daath. The Order also enforces the recognition of Daath as an autonomous state.
-Considering the size of Daath, I doubt they have much in the way of export. Religion and political neutrality is probably where all their money comes from.
-...no one listens to Dist. Ever.
-Dist has a revenge journal
En Route to Baticul
-Time for another info dump for Luke!
-"When a certain amount of a particular fonon gathers together, it becomes sentient". This is interesting, now that I think about it, because what they are basically saying is that if you get enough fonons in one place, they develop a mind of their own. If there were TWO giant lumps of Seventh Fonons, would there be two Loreleis? Do Shadow, Rem, Ifrit and such actually exist, as in are there aggregate sentiences of those fonons floating around somewhere, or do they only hypothetically exist, as in “We know this would happen if there WERE giant lumps of the Fifth Fonon, but currently there aren’t”? It’s basically like saying we COULD have a theoretically infinite number of godlike beings, but atm we don’t.
-Somehow no two frequencies are ever the same. I imagine they get down to realllly close measurements though, considering they went to pi by like, twenty numbers.
-Isofons don't exist unless artificially created.
-Isofons also create hyperresonances for some reason, so it could be hyperresonances are not strictly limited to the Seventh Fonon, but strictly limited to a certain interaction between isofons, buuut it doesn’t apply to the first six fonons because of how they are wielded? Unsure…
-Replicas are not generally isofons, as in they have different fonon frequencies. I imagine Luke is the first and best replica because of this? Perhaps it also explains whey he and Asch outlasted all other replicas.
-Jade says you can't produce isofons in fomicry, meaning however they make isofons artificially (which has been done often enough that no one is surprised by it) it isn't through fomicry. I'm guessing there is a way to create something with a specific frequency? According to Jade, isofon research is being looked into for weapons development, but it's still in the theoretical stages.
-Mieu can’t swim.
-Skit: “The Oracle Knights Attack!”
-Barrelow X has an AI which doesn't surprise anyone.
-...but not a very good one.
-LAMEST MINIGAME
-Jade has a photographic memory? Wouldn't surprise me.
Baticul
-Goldberg is commander of the 1st Divison, Kimlasca-Lanvaldear Royal Forces.
-"King Ingobert the Sixth"
This reminds me, isn't Lanvaldear the family name of the Royalty? I wonder why they never go by it. If Luke became King would it become Kimlasca-Fabre? Or would he take on the name Lanvaldear?
-"Brigadier General Jozette Cecille"
-"Ionian Sergeant Anise Tatlin, Oracle Knights Fon Master Guard"
-Jade had a battle against Cecille in Northern Chesedonia. Jade won.
-Considering that “tensions along the border are greater now than at the time of the Hod War”, Jade, Cecille and Goldberg all act pretty chill with each other.
-Skit: “Who taught Tear to cook”
-Baticul was built in a depression in the ground created when a fonstone fell from the sky.
-Darkwings were originally the circus troupe "Black Dream"
-Jade: "Anyone who interferes with others' romances should get kicked by a horse and die." >D
-Skit: “Impressions of Baticul”
-Luke BARGES IN to stop Mohs from talking to Ingobert about war. Once he is back in a place where he can boss people around, he is happy to do it!
-Skit: “The Letter”
Fabre Manor, Baticul
-For all that Duke Fabre has a horrible reputation, what with Guy's past and the fact that he basically ignored Luke growing up, as far as I can recall he never acts unreasonable in the game. He's genuinely glad that Luke returns safely, genuinely glad to see Asch again, he doesn't do anything to Guy when he finds out who he is, Pere keeps his job though it must have been Pere that brought Guy to the manor. He doesn't do anything to Tear other than suspect her (reasonable) when she teleports Luke halfway across the world. He's distant but never really takes an offensive tone.
-Natalia: Luke!
Luke: Ugh…
N: What kind of attitude is that? Do you realize how worried I was?!
Guy: Oh, well, you know… Luke’s just embarrassed, Your Highness.
N: Guy! You have some explaining to do, too! I told you to come tell me before you went searching for Luke! Why did you leave without speaking to me?
G: You know a servant like me can’t get into castle!
N: Why are you backing away?
G: You know why!
N: Once I marry Luke, you’ll be my servant too. Get used to it.
G: I can’t!
N: So you’re so strange. Look how pathetic you are. I don’t know what the maids see in you.
N: …I’m sorry to hear about Van.
L: What’s going on with Master Van?
N: Oh, my father didn’t tell you? They suspect Van of being behind your disappearance.
Tear: So that’s why he asked if I was conspiring with Van.
N: Oh…? Who’s this…?
Luke! Don’t tell me you’ve taken advantage of one of your servant girls!
L: What? There’s no way I’d touch a chick as cold as that! Besides, she’s not a servant! She’s Master Van’s sister.
N: …Oh! You’re the one who caused this commotion in the first place. “Tear” was it?
L: Enough about that! Tell me what’s going to happen to Master Van!
Jade: Van will likely be as soon as he arrives in Baticul. Worst case, I presume he’d be executed.
Anise: Oh no! Ion! The commandant’s in danger!
Ion: Yes. We must issue a protest from Daath at once.
L: Natalia! Master Van wasn’t involved! Please, talk to Uncle about it! You’ve got to save him!
N: …All right. I can’t turn down a request from you, Luke.
In exchange, please hurry and remember that promise you made.
L: I told you, I don’t remember proposing to you when I was a little kid!
N: Yes, yes. Your memory loss. But how romantic would it be if the first thing you remembered was your proposal to me? ♥
L: ///
…Hurry up and go talk to Uncle about Master Van!
N: Honestly, you can be so mean! Fine.
-Skit: “The Upper Class?”
-Luke doesn't like listening to banter much.
-Tear swears by "Yulia and Lorelei"
-Jade recognized Pere.
-Skit: “What a wonderful mansion!”
-Skit: “A sword with a history”
-God the maids totally just abuse Guy for lulz. “You say the most charming things without even trying, don’t you? ♥
-The maids give Luke a morning weather report from the Score…
-Skit: “To the Castle”
-Luke returns to Baticul on: Gnomeday, Gnome-Decan 2, ND2018
-Auldrant has 13 months in a year, each month is roughly sixty days long. Luke left on Rem Decan 23, was gone through Sylph Decan and Undine Decan, and returned on the second of Gnome Decan. This equals up to (roughly) 160 days for just the first part of the game. DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT, DID IT?
Baticul
-Luke returns to the castle to get his An Hero mission and speech from Van. Covered already in memory 3 and memory 8.
-What exactly is the idea behind letting Van free to help Luke? I know it gets Luke to co-operate, but seriously, if you actually think he's a threat, don't let him walk out. I suppose the score must say something of Van's involvement in the destruction of Akzeriuth.
-Though in addition, since the letter contained the request for aid to Akzeriuth, that means basically Akzeriuth was being slowly poisoned by the miasma for that entire first part of the game and then some. I think in that time Malkuth could have just found a better way to the city.
-I like how kidnapping Ion is pretty much a matter of “Hey Ion, walk this way”.
-Skit: “Taking precautions”
-Skit: “Just ask Guy”
-Guy has always wanted to take Luke to see Miyagi-sensei =X Guy probably came here a lot to practice the sword maybe?
-The FS cores are unique to Kimlasca, this is the first time Jade encountered them.
-Stay at the Inn and you get a little skit about Anise’s habit of collecting foreign recipes because cooking is part of her training to be a bride! Luke is just like “K. cook for me sometime”
-On Jade's spear: "It's a fusion arte that utilizes the contamination effect."
"The Contamination effect is an effect where the fonons and elements of matter separate and refuse together."
-Guy notes that 'this is like the fusion property of materials used in synthesis', must be a part of fonic technology?
-Because the fonons and elements that form up organic and inorganic material are different, Jade can temporarily fuse the spear into the outer layer of his right arm.
Doing this is dangerous because typically the body rejects the effect, it can cause mental damage, even insanity.
-Along with rumors that Jade collects corpses to use in experiments to revive the dead, there are ones that say the entire third division is made up of undead.
-When they plan to leave Baticul for Akzerituh 'Oracle ships are seen watching the Central Ocean'. It's seen as an attempt by the Grand Maestro faction to interfere. It's really ironic that Jade didn't see this coming, actually. He should have known that Mohs, above all else, would uphold the score. Mohs has no reason to prevent Luke from getting to Akzeriuth.
Fonons
First Fonon is Dark (Shadow)
Second is Earth (Gnome)
Third is Wind (Sylph)
Fourth is Water (Undine)
Fifth is Fire (Efreet)
Sixth is Light (Rem)
Seventh is Sound (Lorelei)
Calander
Rem Decan
Sylph Decan
Undine Decan
Gnome Decan
Ifrit Decan
Shadow Decan
Shadow Redecan
Ifrit Redecan
Gniome Redecan
Undine Redecan
Sylph Redecan
Luna Redecan
Lorelei Decan
Days of the Week
Remday
Lunaday
Ifritday
Undineday
Sylphday
Loreleiday
Gnomeday