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Episode XLIV: Bacon Tech.jpg) You know, it's kind of crazy Lenny is only the second character death thus far (and also he's not actually dead) considering how much of a blood bath Shadow Hearts 1 was from the word go. .jpg) Anyway, we should probably get that iron mask off Roger. He's a brittle old man. Or indestructible, maybe. He did jump off the moon and crash back down to Earth completely fine that one time. It's hard to say. .jpg)  Huh! He looks the same underneath! Did the mask transform him in some way? Nah. He just looks like a man-raisin. You get used to it..jpg)  Keep your comments to yourself! Besides, you're late getting here! .......jpg)  Hey, who's this weird-looking gentleman? <stands up> What a rude young lady! I'll have you know I am not weird-looking! I am... vintage! My name is... Uhh....jpg) Like in the first Shadow Hearts, we're given the option of naming this "Odd Creature." In fact, this is nearly the same screen as the first Shadow Hearts, just with Roger's updated outfit. .jpg) By default it is Roger, but I feel we can do better.  OLD Music: Bacon's Juice (It's Roger Bacon's unfortunately named theme from Shadow Hearts 1.) .jpg) Master philosopher, alchemist, and eternal Love Child—Music: ENDS .jpg) Enough of that! We don't have time for your long-winded self-introductions! Eh? What?! What are you talking about?! Remember that time we ordered a pizza and you gave like a ten minute introduction after you opened the door that segued into talking about the history of the burnt down monastery and on and on. The tip I had to give that kid for enduring that. Yeesh... I feel it was an educational experience for the young man. He was middle-aged by the time you were done.Gepetto walks over and pokes Roger.  Aaaah!! Doesn't look like his bones are broken. Hey, you old goat! Watch where you're touching! <raises his fist> I'm not doing it because I want to! And where do YOU get off calling anyone old? You look like a dried up mummy! I would say I look pretty well for being 701 years old, thank you very much!Roger's eyes go wide and he turns to Yuri.  You didn't give it to him, did you Yuri? You didn't give Nicolai the book?! Er, well, you see, um. ...I didn't so much "give" it to him as I happened to have in on me while... incapacitated... and it... maybe, umm... kinda exchanged hands during that time... Huh?! ...You gave it to him... <shakes head and turns to the camera> I was tortured for several days and didn't talk. The big fellow had those clawed soldiers enact Shakespeare plays. More like butcheries of the plays. Do you know the horrors of subpar stage performances for hours on end? Flubbed lines. Missed cues. Endlessly... Yes, torture... Tortured until my soul cried out—Yuri smacks Roger in the back of the head again. .jpg) Stop your complaining! We'll get it back already, okay?! <falls to his hands and knees> Oh, it's terrible! If we don't do something, there will be another terrible tragedy! <sobs> It's not the first time that lousy evil book got lost. Remember, I found it last time from some rugrat camping out in an orphan crockpot in London? And nothing bad happened. You just said the phrase "orphan crockpot." ...Yeah, OK. Maybe that wasn't great. Still.Karin walks over to Roger and squats down. .jpg)  Get ahold of yourself! First we have to get out of here. Then we can talk, okay? (...That's quite the view you're giving me, miss.) She's right! We should leave before they come back. <stands up> Hmm... Well, okay.Music: Bacon's Juice .jpg) And with that, our time on St. Marguerite Island is concluded. For now... Unfortunately, this place does host components of several sidequests much later in the game. But that is not for a long time. This title might do the same thing as the original Shadow Hearts and just shotgun blast sidequests all over the map once the final dungeon is available. And yes, doing a ton of side content will be with the world on the brink of calamity at a very specified time period that won't hold up.  Music: Old Smudged Map ~ Europe .jpg) That said, while we're done with the island prison at last, we're not quite finished with this chapter. The game spits us out on the world map, but the only available option is returning to Cannes. I'm uncertain why they didn't just automatically send us back there, but whatever. As soon as we enter Cannes we're immediately dumped into the Exposition Zone. Music: ENDS .jpg) A number of secret societies were born at the turn of the 20th century..jpg) Many of them were derived from the Jesuits or the Rosicrucians. Among them, Sapientes Gladio was one of the most interesting..jpg) At first, they worshipped the Lord humbly and worked for equality. They valued each other's opinions and were an extremely idealistic group..jpg) They broke down barriers between races, and just when it looked like they would extend their influence, it happened....jpg) With the appearance of one man, the activities of Sapientes Gladio were perverted into something else. The man who became the new leader pushed his own elitist agenda, so that only those who could prove their superiority could join the group..jpg) They sent the message that, in the name of their secret society's ideals, they would do whatever was necessary....jpg) ...So they're terrorists! Exactly right. Sapientes Gladio, as they are now, is nothing more than a group of dangerous terrorists. To make no mention of a lack of unified aesthetic. A bunch of shock troopers with giant claws and bodysuits. A giant biker guy. A dominatrix. A priest. What are they even going for with that mix? If we don't stop them, something terrible will happen... <nods head> Mhm. Also they cursed me, by the way. We should probably figure out how to sort that out... ...You got cursed AGAIN?! <rubs neck> Look, this kinda thing happens from time to time. Yuri, I am 701 years old and have NEVER been cursed. Whatever... Bite me..jpg) But why you, Roger? Why was Sapientes Gladio hunting for you? Good question. They wanted three things. My life....jpg) ...The Émigré Manuscript, and... And what? <turns away and nods> Hmm. I think... it would be better if I showed you that.Music: Town of Twilight ~ European Town .jpg) I have to walk all the way back to Wales AGAIN?! I'm sorry the first trip was a hassle. This is the third trip in as many months. How do you think I got the Émigré whatsit? I keep telling you that you need to be more efficient with your time.  ...Do you want another smack? No... Then we should probably go. Understandable.We're now free to leave Cannes. But there is one small matter to attend to in town. Remember, we did solve that treasure hunt riddle with Loud Croft. Let's go rub our superior pixel hunting skills in his face. .jpg)  What?! You found it?! Oh, jeez, I don't believe it! I can't believe you beat me! Technically, my dog found it. But details... Let's do it again! Could we not, though? I'm already shoving a piece of paper with a riddle into your hands! The rules are the same as before. If you find the treasure, you win. If not, I win. Okay, but I don't really care about having a competition with you... I am fully within bounds to just ignore you for the rest of my natural life. But you're gonna do it, right? ...... ...Maybe..jpg) We are now given Treasure: Love. This is less a riddle and more you posted all the letters backwards to be annoying. So you don't have to work out reading this yourself, unscrambled it says... Behind the pillar where there is a view of the town that has stone houses and a beautiful sunset. Not really a spoiler: It's somewhere we've yet to discover. We'll just keep that in mind for a future date. .jpg) With that taken care of, we are safe to leave Cannes. Exactly one NPC has new dialogue and it's the guy who told us he saw them taking an old man to the prison island. He just says, "Oh snap you saved him? Cool!" Music: Old Smudged Map ~ Europe .jpg) We can now go wherever we want but... yeah, there's nothing else to do at the moment, to be frank. Joachim is still not quite beefy enough to take on Great Gama Round 2 and likely won't be until near the end of Disc 1. So, let's just head straight back to Wales and see what Roger wants to show us. Music: Spiritualization ~ Holy Land of God .jpg) We should probably ask him why he scrapped his old house and made an even more weird sci-fi oddity. But perhaps we'll find a reason shortly. .jpg) Entering the building, Roger gives us some incredibly vague instructions. You couldn't point in a direction or anything, my guy? Or just... push this secret button yourself? .jpg) He actually wants us to click in a weird nook on the far eastern side of his house. I definitely didn't just hug the walls clicking the search button non-stop like the Doom Guy looking for secret areas. .jpg) A hole opens up in the center of his room revealing an elevator. Or a sinister cage to trap an unwitting adventurer wandering into his domicile. It could go either way. .jpg) Roger apparently can use Instant Transmission as he has vanished as soon as the elevator appears. I guess we'll have to do things the old fashioned way. .jpg) .jpg) The elevator takes us to a deep sublevel basement. There are paths to the east and west. .jpg) To the east is a strange locked vault. This will definitely not be the future site of incredibly bad ideas in the far future. No sir. Anyway, to the west we find... .jpg) Is this what they were after? Yup. It might look like an ordinary airship, but this baby's got a lot of heart. What does that mean? ...And since when are airships "ordinary?" I've seen two ever including this one and that's just been this month..jpg) <turns to Roger> What the hell is that? All you need is a bucket of water and she'll fly for 3000 kilometers! It can do vertical takeoff and landing too! <turns back to the airship> Hmph. Whadiya mean, "Hmph"?! What kind of reaction is "Hmph"?! This is technology over a century ahead of its time I made from scrap metal in bloody Wales and you're going to "Hmph" it!? Hmph.  I-it really is wonderful... Truly. Meh... The paint job is lacking. It... does look a... little rusty. Awroo!! Awroo!! (It's a marvel!! These humans are fools!!) Blanca says "Hmph" too..jpg) You people have no understanding of the intricacies of science! <nods with a look of agreement> I do not..jpg) .jpg) Yep. So, Roger Bacon, in apparently six months' time, has developed nuclear fusion technology and a VTOL jet in 1915. Remember when this series started as a low-key macabre horror about three jerks having a REALLY bad Halloween in Wales? .jpg) Yeah, me neither... .jpg) By the way, Sir Roger, you do know where Nicolai is going, don't you? Of course I do! Why would I have you all pile onto my miracle of science super plane otherwise? Hmph. This is why you're sitting in coach, Yuri. Where?The hangar door opens. .jpg) To where the leader of Sapientes Gladio is! He's headed for... Petrograd, Russia! Russia?! Correct. This is gonna get stupid, isn't it? Also correct.A launching rail of shorts extends and the engines of the jet fire up. .jpg) Okay, it's almost time for liftoff! Hold on tight, everyone!.jpg) Bacon Jet?!Music: Take Off! ~ Airship (This only ever plays in this cutscene. Bacon also invented House music.) .jpg) .jpg) .jpg) Is this thing safe?! Eh. Don't talk to me right now! That's not the answer I wanted to hear! NO TALKING! <whimper>The Bacon Jet stabilizes. .jpg) Okay, that's better. That was one of my smoothest takeoffs! How bad were the last ones if that was smooth. Hmm... Well, this is *technically* Bacon Jet Mk III. ...I regret asking..jpg) <sigh> ...So who is this leader, anyway? What's he really after? His name is Grigori Rasputin, and his goal is to take over the Russian Empire..jpg) That's right, baby! We're going to go beat up the Mad Monk himself -- motherfucking Rasputin! Were this an anime, this is the end of Season 1. Look forward to history taking a turn as Shadow Hearts: Covenant flips a table and does whatever the gently caress it wants!   We didn't meet anyone new, but there was a sizable pool of enemies on that tedium island. Let's take a closer look. Monsters: .jpg) These Gundam Char clones aren't even trying anymore. .jpg) One day I'll have a stupid red feather coming out of my full plate armor suit. .jpg) I can't believe we killed Veronica's dog. You'd think she'd be more pissed. Dehuai was steamed when we killed his cat. .jpg) I'm not a doctor, but whatever cow is making GBS threads Pepto-Bismol pink MIGHT need to be put down... .jpg) As we all know, alligators once had scorpion stingers in ancient times. .jpg) You're not Alexander!   Video: Episode 44 Highlight Reel (You should definitely watch this!)   Roger Bacon Concept Art - Actually a distant ancestor of Chief Aramaki from Ghost in the Shell. The Dark Id fucked around with this message at 03:45 on Dec 18, 2019 |
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Dec 18, 2019 01:51
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And now things get weird.
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Dec 18, 2019 01:58
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ultrafilter posted:And now things get weird. No, no, no. Things have been weird for a while. I'd even say they've gotten kooky in the last couple of updates. Things will get batshit now.
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Dec 18, 2019 02:01
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ultrafilter posted:And now things get weird. Get? I love the bromance between Yuri and Roger. One of my favorite things about the game
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Dec 18, 2019 02:01
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Roger has always been a delight, even back in the 'sombre gothic horror days'. Things can only improve when you go to punch Rasputin.
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Dec 18, 2019 02:10
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The Dark Id posted:
I think the last one should be Roger's portrait and not Lucia's.
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Dec 18, 2019 02:35
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The Dark Id posted:
I love that they pulled the exact same joke that they did in SH1 even though in this game you can't rename your party members so it is completely out out of place here. 
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Dec 18, 2019 02:55
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We're diving straight into alt history shenanigans here, but trust me when I say we are only scratching the surface with what happens in this kooky weird rear end game.
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Dec 18, 2019 03:44
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYnVYJDxu2Q
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Dec 18, 2019 03:46
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This is the moment where things start getting amazing.
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Dec 18, 2019 04:07
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Push button. ACTIVATE BACON JET
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Dec 18, 2019 04:17
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We’re probably going to have to shoot, stab, punch, zap, drown, and burn Rasputin a lot to beat him, aren’t we? In real life, they did all that, and he still wouldn’t die!
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Dec 18, 2019 07:35
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I remember playing this game for the first time, hearing Roger tell me that our next objective was to punch Rasputin, and feeling proud of my excellent purchasing decision.
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Dec 18, 2019 08:10
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I’d say the real Shadow Hearts 2 starts here, but in a lot of ways there’s a “this isn’t even my final form” element to it.
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Dec 18, 2019 15:24
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Oh man, you think the average jrpg boss is hard to kill? I can only IMAGINE how long freakin' Rasputin will take to put down.
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Dec 19, 2019 00:39
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Sterski posted:Oh man, you think the average jrpg boss is hard to kill? I can only IMAGINE how long freakin' Rasputin will take to put down.
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Dec 19, 2019 00:41
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Commander Keene posted:Yeah, he was an HP sponge in real life. and from all accounts the assassins where pretty much using lovely equipment while doing it (a notoriously inaccurate gun among other things - it's surprisingly hard to get solid verifiable details on the events leading up to his death)
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Dec 19, 2019 00:43
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They still clubbed the everliving christ out of him then threw him semi-conscious into a freezing river. Even if everything else failed, that alone is a decent amount of trauma to murder with.
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Dec 19, 2019 01:17
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They just weren't prepared for a multi-form boss battle. An amateur mistake.
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Dec 19, 2019 05:31
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It's common knowledge that Rasputin survived the assassination attempt and fled to England where he's been writing comic books since the 70's.
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Dec 19, 2019 05:50
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Rasputin being an actual sorcerer is not exactly that big of a stretch. I dunno, I just thought the game with the gay wrestling vampire would be a little weirder with this historical figure.
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Dec 19, 2019 06:09
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Sometimes, you just gotta play the hits.
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Dec 19, 2019 06:10
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If we don't get at least one fight with Rasputin that ends with him 'dead' for an hour before showing up out of nowhere I will be severely disappointed. 
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Dec 19, 2019 06:12
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Accordion Man posted:It's common knowledge that Rasputin survived the assassination attempt and fled to England where he's been writing comic books since the 70's. That's just a rumor. Rasputin moved to Canada and makes LP's under the name The Dark Id. Rabbi Raccoon fucked around with this message at 06:38 on Dec 19, 2019 |
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Dec 19, 2019 06:32
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What other historical figures would make very good JRPG bosses? Rasputin is one of the most fitting.
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Dec 19, 2019 07:10
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Night10194 posted:What other historical figures would make very good JRPG bosses? Rasputin is one of the most fitting. The Pope. Which one? Doesn't matter.
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Dec 19, 2019 07:21
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Night10194 posted:What other historical figures would make very good JRPG bosses? Rasputin is one of the most fitting. I mean, Dracula seems like a gimme.
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Dec 19, 2019 07:23
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Night10194 posted:What other historical figures would make very good JRPG bosses? Rasputin is one of the most fitting. Adam and Eve
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Dec 19, 2019 07:32
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Night10194 posted:What other historical figures would make very good JRPG bosses? Rasputin is one of the most fitting. For some other candidates, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great. Accordion Man fucked around with this message at 08:15 on Dec 19, 2019 |
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Dec 19, 2019 07:38
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Pretty much any figure from Antiquity. And Charlemagne. You fight him After Roland pulls a Luca Blight
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Dec 19, 2019 08:39
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IIRC, there was an Shin Megami Tensei game that had Rasputin as the villain, right?
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Dec 19, 2019 08:50
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HR12345 posted:IIRC, there was an Shin Megami Tensei game that had Rasputin as the villain, right?
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Dec 19, 2019 08:55
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Accordion Man posted:The first Raidou Kuzunoha game and he was actually a robot from the future.
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Dec 19, 2019 08:56
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Persona 1 or 2 had Hitler as a villain. Though I feel he probably was a JRPG villain in more than one game.
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Dec 19, 2019 09:55
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CVE posted:Persona 1 or 2 had Hitler as a villain. Though I feel he probably was a JRPG villain in more than one game. Persona 2: IS Not truly Hitler, but (re)born from a rumor based on a book that says he survived his suicide and is waiting for his time to come back. (In persona 2 the supernatural happenings give power to rumors and make them real)
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Dec 19, 2019 10:38
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Rigged Death Trap posted:Persona 2: IS He then took the form of a tentacle monster with all the protagonists’s dads as limbs. It was a weird game.
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Dec 19, 2019 12:40
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Persona 2 rocked. I especially like the censored version of Hitler where they just put some sunglasses on him that make him look like even more of a smug rear end in a top hat.
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Dec 19, 2019 15:14
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Any game based off the Three Kingdoms era of China is full of historic personalities. Ditto anything based off the Sengoku or Warring States period of Japan. I personally wish they’d do something like Deadpool: Dead Presidents with figures from US History. If it was good I’d play the heck out of it. 
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Dec 19, 2019 15:55
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Not sure why there's shock at the reduced body count. The first game was rated M but Covenant is rated T. It stands to reason that the level of violence would drop accordingly.
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Dec 19, 2019 17:23
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| # ? May 23, 2024 10:28 |
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 Episode XLV: And Then On to Russia Music: Old Smudged Map ~ Europe .jpg) We now move on to the Music: ENDS .jpg) We open with a scene of a vampire having just undoubtedly drained their latest victim of blood. It was a little known fact that was swept out of focus by The Great War, but the Belmonts were dealing with a heck of a case of a Dracula outbreak in Eastern Europe around this time. .jpg) Or maybe this is just Grigori Rasputin and they're not even going the feign in the slightest that he is anything but an incredibly evil warlock. .jpg) And the woman sleeping in the bed is none other than Veronica Vera. Yep, Rasputin and Veronica have been doing the bedroom barynya. I'm glad they needed to relay that information in the same scene they introduce Rasputin. Veronica awakens and sits up in bed. .jpg)  Lord Rasputin, you're still here... I'm sorry... I guess I overslept... Well, you had quite a workout. But no worry, it's not yet noon. 11:45 AM but that still qualifies as before noon.The two are interrupted by a knock at the door. .jpg) Yes, what is it? Was the "Do Not Disturb. Sex in Progress!" sign on the doorknob not adequate to deter interruptions? Th-there's no sign like that out here, sir... Oh, bother. I knew I had forgotten something. I have a message from Her Majesty, Empress Alexandra.Rasputin approaches the door. .jpg) Is it about tonight's ball? Yes. It begins at nightfall. Her Majesty requests that you arrive in the hall before then. Unfortunately, I will not be attending. I must be at church this evening. I have scheming and plotting to do and have no time for such frivolities. But Her Majesty... Tell her that I will see her tomorrow. Inform her I will be at Tuesday night's ball. She should well know by now Sundays are not good for me. Y-yes, my lord.The messenger leaves. Meanwhile, Veronica has managed to squeeze into her entire ridiculous standard outfit and put on all her makeup in the fifteen seconds that conversation lasted. .jpg) My, my. Straight out of bed and already an invitation to the royal ball. Well, now since you healed the Prince, the Empress has come to rely on you. She wants to spend some more time with you. Oh, you do not have to tell me. The clinginess is... irritating. But... <strokes beard> More work to gain the Emperor's trust, eh... <messes with her ponytail> You won't have to toil much longer. Am I right?NEW Music: Rasputin ~ Mysterious Monk (At least they're upfront about him being incredibly evil.) .jpg) Yes, it's time. Time to take the stage as the man who ended the 300-year-old Romanov dynasty. <walks up to Rasputin> The world will be changed forever. Heh.Veronica bows and walks to the door to leave. .jpg) Veronica. ? The godslayer will come here eventually. Be on your guard. I think it safe to say we can take Lenny off the payroll by now. Yes, sir. One more thing... Keep a close watch on Nicolai. It seems he's having secret negotiations with the Japanese envoy. ?! Now go. <smiles and nods>Veronica departs. .jpg) The fool can't forget his puny revenge.Hmm. Nicolai is plotting with a Japanese envoy, huh? Now, who have we seen on a diplomatic assignment from Japan in the last few months? It couldn't be Kato. That big lunk can't be doing clandestine deals with the smug prettyboy terrorist. Absurd! Meanwhile, a couple of minutes earlier... .jpg) I have scheming and plotting to do and have no time for such frivolities. But Her Majesty... Tell her that I will see her tomorrow. Inform her I will be at Tuesday night's ball. She should well know by now Sundays are not good for me. Y-yes, my lord..jpg) The messenger walks by, taking no notice of the little girl in a bright blue and white coat doing an incredibly poor job of hiding behind a nearby potted plant. C'mon, kid. Even if he had no peripheral vision like a Metal Gear Solid guard, you are a good two feet past the plant you're squatting next to here. The little girl runs up to the door and puts her ear against it. .jpg)  And they were so loud last night! All that hollering and something about... a whip...? What's with all the whispering now?.jpg) .jpg) The door opens and the Girl Behaving Suspiciously returns to her safe zone behind the potted plant. At least Veronica immediately turned the other direction and probably wouldn't have noticed the bright blue human-shaped figure behind a green plant. Still, kid. You need to put more points into Stealth. This is embarassing. Girl Behaving Suspiciously walks back to Rasputin's door, crosses her arms and starts tapping her foot. .jpg) Looks like he won't be coming to the ball tonight. I bet he'll be up to no good, instead. He's probably plotting and scheming and what not. How am I the ONLY one that notices he looks like some kind of vampire demon lord? And that music that starts playing when he strokes his beard! It's SO obvious he's up to no good! .....Girl Behaving Suspiciously ponders for a few moments before slamming her fist into her palm and doing a fist pump. NEW Music: Going Her Way (This really reminds me a town theme from Xenogears. Also yay, there's finally a new town theme!) .jpg) If I can get some kind of proof of what Rasputin's really like, I can show it to my father! Then he'll know the truth! Just you wait! I'm not letting you get your hands on Mother Russia! <ponders for a moment> I guess I'd better go see what Ewan has to say first!.jpg) So meet our newest playable character -- Girl Behaving Suspiciously. But that name won't do. What are we going to call her? GBS? That's dumb. Why would you even think such a thing?! Let's check the Profile screen. .jpg) Why we're just playing as Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia aka Princess Anastasia Romanov. Yeah, sure. Why not? We already have Rasputin showing up as the lead villain. Why not recruit Anastasia along for the ride? Let's just reenact that Don Bluth fanfic 1997 animated movie. You know the one where Rasputin was Christopher Lloyd and Anastasia escaped the purge and was now a kind of creepily sexualized 18-year old voiced by Meg Ryan. .jpg) Impressively, Anastasia is already Level 19 at the tender young age of umm... well, in real life and (supposedly in-game) she is meant to be 14 years old but... but she both looks and acts like she is 11-12 tops and I don't believe she had an dwarfism I'm aware of, so... We'll just work off the assumption Anastasia was born a couple of years later in this weird-rear end alternate history timeline. .jpg) Anastasia is equipped with entirely armor and accessories we've already seen. She as of yet doesn't have a weapon but maybe we'll fix that in the near future. .jpg) She does, however, come with four Magic Crests already equipped. That seems irresponsible to give to a 12-year-old, but I guess I'm not early century Russian royalty. Most of them are defense or support oriented magic. Such as...
.jpg) In any event, we now have to go search for Ewan, who was that messenger earlier. And to do so we'll need to explore The Winter Palace -- The Russian Emperor's residency from 1737 to 1917. Although at this point in history, the Tsar and his family rarely stayed here often. But, Shanghai also didn't get leveled by a magic nuclear attack and an alien space station never rose from the Irish sea off Wales and covered the world with eldritch glyphs to summon a god either so, details... We cannot bug Rasputin and the door Veronica went through is now locked. So let's head to the south and see what's going on with the other Winter Palace guards and residents. .jpg) Translation: Look, we didn't feel like rending EVERY side room in this hall. You have to skip one or two, alright? .jpg) I was merely reallocating those cookies to those more in need for the good of Mother Russia. Namely me.Anastasia enters the room opposite the guard. .jpg) Trying to uncover a plot by Rasputin to overthrow our government. Oh, that's sweet deary..jpg)  Ever since Lord Rasputin got himself involved in our politics, Russia seems to be walking through a fog...In real life, Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov was one of the key orchestrators of the assassination of Rasputin. In Shadow Hearts: Covenant, he doesn't even earn a character portrait. So the death of Rasputin might go slightly different than it did in history. Anastasia moves to the next hall to the south. .jpg) I would never let Mother Russia look bad on the international stage. You kicked a British delegate in the knee and called him a booger face just last month, Princess. Slander and lies!.jpg) Tch. Please. There aren't even good snacks kept in this hallway. I won't debase myself with peasant crackers.Anastasia ducks into the nearby room. .jpg)  The people in this palace don't even seem to know there's a war going on in the rest of the world... I know about it. I'm also twelve, so... I suppose that is a fair point..jpg)  Lord Rasputin tells me he'll pass the information on to the Tsar, but I wonder if he ever gets the full reports?Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich of Russia was another co-conspirator in the historical assassination of Rasputin. He was also one of the few Romanovs that didn't get killed in the revolution purge. Like Prince Yusupov, he's failed to even earn a proper character portrait so I doubt his role in events will be significant. The two both do get Library entries and a more than usual amount of lines. I'm not sure why they didn't bother with portraits when people like that German general who had five lines in the prologue or literally every Wolf Bout opponent do. Okay, I'm happy they did the last one so what do I know? Anastasia heads to the next room south. .jpg)  Even though it's wartime, my shop is well-stocked. Just let me know if there's ever anything you might need! But of course, you understand, with times being what they are, costs have gone up ever so slightly... Ho ho ho! Ho ho ho! I just LOVE war profiteering. It's good to support Mother Russia's economy..jpg)  How can they have these extravagant parties every night when there's a war going on? Tch. Be happy to be employed by the good graces of the state. The revolution cannot come fast enough... What was that? Excuse me, princess, I need to change the sheets.Anastasia exits to the front of the palace. .jpg)  <frown> They docked my pay for a week last time, miss. My youngest boy, Jorgi, nearly starved. Please, Princess... Do not sneak out again. My family is dying. Hmph. I won't for now. Only if you tell me where Ewan has gone! You can't go through here, Princess. The empress was very firm about that. Ewan? I think I saw him walking down the west hallway..jpg) Alright, the west hallway. Now we're getting somewhere. It's just a mirror of the previous hallway, but this is where the royalty that gets character portraits dwells. Let's talk to the guards in the corridor before we head into the side rooms. .jpg) My royal right to mischief cannot be contained by lowly peasants!.jpg) Pfft. I merely enhanced their aesthetic. You colored all of their mustaches pink with crayon. Just as I said -- enhanced their aesthetic!Let's head into the three rooms in the hall starting with the south most one. .jpg) This first room actually belongs to Anastasia. It has a save point and everything. .jpg) There is one item of note. Anastasia's rather large stuffed bear contains a Tarot Card for Lucia. Technically, we cannot actually look at the Tarot Card just now because Lucia is not in the current party and all non-party members' menus are disabled. But we can cheat by just grabbing a shot from when the main party inevitably encounters Princess Romanov and... .jpg) Oh good, double or halve the most nebulous turn-based RPG stat next to Luck. That'll be a boon. The Special Effect version will up Evasion by 400% or reduce it by 75%. Quite the spread. .jpg) The next room is where Anastasia's mother, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her younger brother, Prince Alexei Nikolaevich, are hanging out. Unlike the couple other historical figures we've encountered in our Winter Palace roaming, both of them get character portraits so they might actually be significant to the Shadow Hearts 2 plot. .jpg)  The Tsar has gone out to inspect the battlefields, so the least we can do it do our duties properly here at home! I want you to listen well to Lord Rasputin's instructions and start behaving like a proper young princess! But mother! I think he's trying to take over the country! No more of this mischievous talk about the good Lord Rasputin's intentions! Hmph! You never listen to me and my conspiracy theories!.jpg) I can't today. I'm too busy saving the nation. Aww... Again?The next room up is where the actual plot progress is located as Ewan, the Page is hanging out there wandering in circles as NPCs often enjoy as a popular pastime. .jpg) His Holiness won't be attending the royal ball this evening. He said he'd be going to the church in town... The church in town?! Hmm. There's something fishy about that... Did you say something, Your Highness? Are you suspicious about the monk going to a church on a Sunday...? <shakes head> No, no. Nothing. ...Guess I'd better go back to my room and come up with a plan! Did you just say you were going to come up with some sort of plan. Should I be worried? No, no. You are just hearing things. I'm pretty sure I'm not. *I* am pretty sure you did! <sigh> As you say, Princess...At this point, our only option to progress is to return to Anastasia's room. So let's do just that. .jpg) Yes. Better rest up for tonight.Music: ENDS. Sometime later that night... .jpg) Yeah... I'm pretty sure I see her hiding poorly behind that pillar... She's like right then... And I'm pretty sure I see it's 9:00 PM and it's time for a post rotation so it's Roman and Nico's problem. We should return to our posts, then..jpg) The two guards wander off and Anastasia almost immediately pops out and declares her attention well with earshot of them in this empty foyer. Elsewhere, later that night... NEW Music: Anastasia (This a much lower key music box-like version of Anastasia's theme.) .jpg) You all like clocks? .jpg) Cuz we got clocks! We got SO many clocks .jpg) We are LOUSY with clocks! Up to our eyeballs in clocks! What time is it?! Clock time! .jpg) <fidgets restlessly> Is it ready yet, Edgar? <fiddles with something> Almost, Your Highness. I just need to test it out now.Anastasia hops down and inspects his work. .jpg) What did you want something like this for, all of a sudden? Are you trying to stir up some kind of mischief? ...... Of course not! I'm working for the benefit of Mother Russia, that's all! Oh is that all? Lord, I'm gonna get sent to a gulag for this....jpg) You mustn't make the Tsar and the Tsarina worry about you, you know. Is it Tsarina? Is that right? That sounds like a made-up word. No, that's right. If you say so, Your Highness. It's fine. My mother is so busy with Alexei that she never even thinks about me. <goes back to fiddling with the device> Not that talk again! What? Unless Rasputin is around, they just stand in the same bedroom next to each other all day. It's weird!.jpg) Your Highness, it's finished! <inspects Edgar's work before turning back and smiling> Whoopee! Thanks, Edgar! Tee hee!.jpg) Promise me something. You must always use the Mystic Egg and the Camera for the cause of good. Now I don't wanna hear about no propagandist photos or punishing enemies of the state, ya hear? <nods enthusiastically> Of course! I promise! Hehe! <chuckles>Later that night Princess Anastasia would get her first taste of blood and would lust for more... .jpg) Anastasia gleefully grabs a huge box camera off the table and heads for the door. As for the Mystic Egg, well, maybe she has now acquired a weapon to equip... .jpg) And one more thing, your Highness. Stay away from Prince Yusupov. That mad monk has been keeping a close watch on him. Hehe. Watch. Do you get it? Since I'm a watchmaker... Heh. But seriously, he's bad news. ...... <nods> <folds arms, shakes head and chuckles> Hehe... You aren't gonna listen to a word I said, are you? ...... <shakes head>.jpg) Anastasia smiles and waves goodbye to Edgar before heading to the door. However, she's stopped at the entrance bumping into... Music: ENDS .jpg)  Oh... <curtseys> Excuse me. <bows head> Excuse me, Madame. Anastasia quickly leaves Edgar's shop. .jpg) Welcome to my shop.Edgar walks over to Kato who reaches into his jacket and pulls out a pocket watch. .jpg) My watch hasn't been working well. Hmm, that's a rare one. Made in Japan, eh. Hmm. Just a minute...Edgar takes the watch and begins working on it at a table. Some time later... NEW Music: Impatient Mood (It sounds more mournful than impatient to me. But what do I know?) .jpg) <continues to repair watch> Are you a Japanese gentleman, then? <looks around the shop> Yes, I'm on a diplomatic tour of Europe. This is my first time here. It's lovely. <wipes brow> Yes, spring is short but sweet here. Last one was six months ago. Next one is six months from now. Hehe.Edgar walks over and hands the pocket watch back to Kato. .jpg) Speaking of springs, yours was worn out. I've just replaced it. I'm grateful. You'd best watch how you handle that thing from now on. Hehe. Little bit of watchmaker humor for you. <nods and smiles> Ah yes. My people too are very keen on the puns.They both look out the window. .jpg) The war has turned brutal lately. Everyone is worried about the future. Do you think it will continue long? ...... Looks that way. At first, we all thought it would be over by Christmas..jpg) Huh. So we've made it to 1916 by this point. In summary, Princess Anastasia Romanov will undoubtedly be joining Yuri's party. Grigori Rasputin couldn't possibly look any eviler and is banging Veronica. And Kato is in town and possibly colluding with Nicolai for some manner of a revenge plot. That was quite the dense opening to a chapter and our band of dipshits hasn't even crashed into the scene yet...  Video: Episode 45 Highlight Reel  Princess Anastasia Romanov Official Art - How does that hat even stay on with that Princess Leia rear end pigtail braid... rings thing going on with her hair?
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Dec 21, 2019 00:07
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