(Sorry for the short update, I had a busy day. It’s late and I’m tired so I’m just going to post what I’ve got.)

Last time, I got a new party member!

This is the point where I fought the cryomancer. I spend the points I got, raising peoples’ stats a bunch and getting “Never Bleed” for Sirush, which improves his charisma and body regeneration rate. I also make it to rank 8.

When I head to Nal, I trigger a scene with the mysterious plot people. I think it’s supposed to trigger when you hit rank 8, but can only trigger when you’re in Nal specifically.

Fell’s worried that they’re running out of time, and thinks the guild needs more prodding. Nath tells her to be cautious, because apparently something bad happened the last time Fell got pushy with a group. I…presume that refers to the Blue Guard? Was the reason they fell out of favor because they couldn’t work fast enough and cracked under the strain? Kott agrees with Nath, regardless.

(Nath fiddles with the gameboard twice in a row during this exchange. What a cheater, playing two turns in a row.)

Fell decides to ignore them and go anyway. Kott says the guild’s not ready, Fell says they are, at least partially.

Fell: They have the strength. They lack the numbers, and the exposure, and the pain.”

Well that’s ominous. Is latent energy tied to pain, somehow? That’s pretty freaky if true, and also kind of disappointing because it almost certainly means we’re going to see a “magic is evil and needs to be destroyed” plot in How Far. Hmm.

Kott goes “whatever” and says, “We’ll wait here in case Donz needs something.” Fell is annoyed by this and Kott says it’s a joke. I’m…not really getting it. Is it because Donz already knows the future so he wouldn’t need anything from them?

Nath: “The past hath tread alongside our friends already. For worse, I know not.”

…What? Is he referring to everyone’s messed-up backstories being the reason they’re so dysfunctional?

Kott: “Yeah. Poor suckers. Well, guess another couple thousand attempts won’t kill us.”

Oh the irony. Poor suckers, indeed.

Back in Nal for real now. Creepy prostitute lady wanted to talk to the guild again when they were rank 8, so…let’s do that, I guess. The conversation proceeds the same as last time, only now Dehl confirms that Ilganyag is rank 8. He’s perplexed as to why that’s important, and asks if she wants to join the guild.

Odd Girl: “What?! A lil’ girl like me, THRUST into battle?”

And yet still no one objects to thrusting an 11-year-old schoolboy into battle…

Dehl continues to be flustered and confused. The girl decides to arrange a private meeting, except she also tells him to bring the rest of the guild and also says to meet near one of the gates (likely in plain sight of just about everyone) so…not a private meeting at all, then?

Fade to black, new scene.

Like before, I’m not even going to try to summarize this weirdness:

Dehl: “The others are on the way, but for now, tell us your name and your troubles.”
Nalian Girl: “My troubles? What’re ya talkin’ about?”
Dehl: “You asked for the protection of a high rank guild, yes? Speaking privately to all of us?”
Nalian Girl: “Awww, ain’t you all just sweeter than a sugarleaf pie? Comin’ to help lil’ ole me? You don’t even know my name! Mmmm, but I LIKE it when they move fast.”
Dehl: “Let us rectify that now. I am Dehl Sikohlon. This gentleman to my left is—”
Nalian Girl: “Kidra! That’s my name, a’ight? We good now? We gonna talk business?”

Dehl and Ques turn to each other, pause, then face her again.

Dehl: “All right. What is your occupation?”
Kidra: “Mmm hmm hmm, depends on what you’re offerin’ and how hard it is to get to, yeah?”
Dehl: “Uhh.”
Qualstio: “Lemme handle this, or else we’re gonna be stuck out here all day.”

He walks up to her.

Kidra: “Well, Sailor? How’s the rain on the rhubarb?”
Qualstio: “Yeah, uh, look. What’s the REAL reason you dragged us all the way out here?”
Kidra: “You mean you don’t wanna protect this sweet, innocent little face of mine?”
Qualstio: “You’re Nalian. There ain’t a whole lot out there that’s much worse, you know? Plus, we can’t stay forever. Eventually we have to move on to someplace else.”
Kidra: “So you’re travelers! Will you wisk me away to some place beau-ti-ful if I ask nicely? I can be a b-i-i-i-i-g help to y’all!”
Zargos: “Eh? Well, maybe this COULD work…”
Santes: “Zargos don’t you DARE! Ooo, you’re gonna GET IT, Mister!”

…

Fero: “In addition, we are a guild of combat. No place we go would be safe for very long.”

“But we drag little kids around with us anyway because we’re horrible people.”

Santes: “That’s right! She’s just gonna be dead weight on us!”
Kidra: “Easy, y’all! I done my fair share of fightin’ too! I ain’t gonna hold yer little army back. And since y’all were so nice to offer, I *would* like to take my services abroad. I’ve been meanin’ to break free, but I ain’t had the funds or the means, yeah?”
Qualstio: “We can always use another warm body on the line when it gets rough out there.

Ah, now I see the rationale that went into recruiting kids off the streets.

Although, you aren’t exactly dressed for combat. I mean, you’re wearin’ sandals. And your clothes, they’re not exactly—“

He jumps back.

Qualstio: “Whoa! What the…!”
Kidra: “Hey hey, watch your fingers! Lookin’ is free, but touchin’ costs extra, a’ight?”
Dehl: “Qualstio?”
Qualstio: “What kinda clothes are those you have on? It almost feels like…Sleeksteel!”
Kidra: “A girl’s gotta have protection, ya know? ‘Course, I’ll let you carry ’em if you like.”
Dehl: “Protection. Of course… And do you have a weapon of any sort?”
Kidra: “Sure do, hon. See? I’m a self-made girl, I am! You ain’t got nothing’ to worry about.”
Dehl: “Well, you seem enthusiastic, certainly. You may travel with us if you like.”
Qualstio: “Ehh, Dehl? Ya sure?”

Wasn’t he the only one arguing in favor of her joining just a minute ago? Although I guess that was before he flipped out at her armor.

Dehl: “I’d never turn down an offered hand, nor deny her a chance to leave this place.”

She walks over to Ques, which seems a bit odd considering that Dehl hasn’t told her he’s the guilld manager.

Dehl: “Ques? Would you append her name?”
Ques: “Of course, Squire.”

He turns to her and presumably hands her the forms.

Kidra: “Mmm, what big, meaty hands you’ve got. Ya know, I once saw a Fih’jik who could—”
Ques: “Enough. Just sign your name here.”

I wonder what happens if poor Alito is in his place here.

[pause]
Ques: “Kidra Silvery. Is this your true name?”
Kidra: “Why, something WRONG with it?”
Ques: “No no, I… W-welcome to Ilganyag, Lady Silvery.”

What? He sounds kinda shaken here. I guess it’s hard to tell with the limited graphics, but it seems almost as if he’s afraid, as if Silvery is some scary important name or something. Is he just supposed to be flustered?

Anyway, she’s a “flashcurve”. Don’t worry, the class names will get even more nonsensical as time goes on.

A spry and flexible lady from Nal who loves attention, she also boasts a smooth and elegant fighting style. Very agile, very charismatic, and proficient at tricking and undermining enemies while watching out for herself.

Kidra: “Woo! All right y’all, you know where to find me when we’re ready to move out!”

They walk off to the right, but Qualstio stays behind (and for some reason no one notices this).

Qualstio: “(Sleeksteel clothes…weapons… Where the hell did she get those? The girl just ain’t right. And comin’ from me, that’s just GOTTA be bad news…)” A bit corny on that last line, game.

I kinda wonder how much of Kidra’s character arc was plotted out in advance? Like with so many plot points, there’s some weird inconsistencies early on, and the final reveal is pretty out of left field. That said, though, I do actually like her. She’s awful right now, of course, but I think the reveal is quite clever and made me appreciate her character a lot more.

Like Sirush, Kidra has appeared in quest mode.

Perhaps someone should tell her that this is actually a block for slave trading, and not a stage for performing arts.

What? She lives here, she’d obviously know that. Maybe she just enjoys the macabre atmosphere for her performances. The narrator is weirdly condescending sometimes.

As the game said, she’s quite agile, and has the highest charisma stat of anyone. I don’t use her much, though – she’s pretty gimmicky, with only one offensive skill. Encouragement is a soul-healing spell based on charisma – it heals the whole party, but for so little that it’s rarely worth it. Feign Weakness draws an enemy closer, but she can’t really take a hit so I don’t know why that would be a good idea. Circle About just stuns slow enemies, kinda meh. Suggestive Taunts is actually pretty interesting in that it has a unique functionality – it can dispel the status buffs that increase regeneration rates. You can also dispel them by just using the opposing buff, though, so it’s not terribly useful (and can’t even dispel the body one, I’m pretty sure). Dizzying Strikes is just a melee buff (so, useless), while Avoidance gives her resistance to some status effects, but only a portion of the time so eh.

Even though she’s pretty useless, I do think her fighting style is actually a lot more believable for her character than Sirush. Even though she can’t really land or take a hit, she’s good at disabling and undermining enemies while avoiding the worst of their attacks, which are all useful abilities to have in a place like Nal. It’s just a shame that they don’t work as well in rigidly-structured battles to the death.

Qualstio doesn’t have a support combination with her despite his suspicion. I guess he spends all his time trying to be as far away from her as possible.

She does have a support combo with Sirush, though.

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