#ive been taking over cult outposts in seconds with them

[ohlookitsthearkhamknight]

The resistance mod is so cool because where else am I going to be desperately trying to get across a train bridge in Faith’s territory as a plane roars overhead with peggies chasing me only to turn around just in time to see Staci get surrounded in smoke as hes shot and a bomb goes off. Me halfway on the bridge trying to figure out if i go to him or continue to run as the plane locks on me only to see jacob run full speed past me to where Staci is slowly dying, revive him and watch as they get up and run past me as we all run for our lives across the bridge. I hear john scream as he gets shot running beside me but never leaving my side. Grace and Jess screaming as we finally get to cover on the island in-between the bridges, halfway there as that damn plane gets closer again. I finally get a good shot on it but it crashed into grace. She went out with a war cry at least.

Safe to say Far Cry 5 is fucking wild even more so with the resistance mod

[benisasoftboi]

Unorganised thoughts on Trails of Cold Steel IV:

WHY ARE THEY CALLED CLASS VII?

WHO ARE CLASS VI?

Anyway - I started playing Trails in August, and I’ve finally, finally caught up (yes I know Hajimari I can’t read Japanese) and like... what do I do now?

It’s a fantastic series and I’m so, so glad I picked up Trails in the Sky on a whim last summer

This game was long. Is it longer than the other ones? It felt that way

The best part was the first chapter because Rean wasn’t in it and yeah I still don’t like him!!! But seriously, it was astonishing how much more I was enjoying things without him

I audibly groaned when goddamn bonding points returned in the second chapter

Actually that was a lie, the best part was Any Time My Angel Estelle Was On Screen

I missed her so much

I let her get the final hit of the game against the boss because she’s the best

Speaking of angels I caught three Wazy cameos!!!

Also Gilbert came back and if there had been a camera on me... I quite literally teared up a little I was so thrilled

I hate the curse it is dumb and rips all the nuance out of the characters. People do not need a goddamn evil curse to be swayed to extremes by overzealous nationalism. Trails I know you are better than this, I played Sky and Crossbell

Fav new location was Milsante (liked Alster too, though). I really like going to tiny little outposts and villages in JRPGs, they make the world feel more real

What the hell was up with the Osgiliath Basin? As in, Giliath Osborne??? Is this going to be a Hajimari thing?

Oh yeah, HOT TAKE, Alan Richard >>> Giliath Osborne. I was reading an LP of Sky FC while playing the game, and Richard’s motivation is clearer and less over-complex, more sympathetic, and he’s just generally a far more human character

Alan Richard best political antagonist in the series fight me (Rufus Albarea distant second)

For best supernatural/cult-y antagonist I’m stuck between Weissmann and Joachim. Or maybe Campanella lol

Oh uh speaking of characters named Georg I will never not hate everything about the George and Angie subplot. Angie should have died and George should have stayed evil, or it shouldn’t have happened at all. As it is, it was a complete waste of time - you could take it all out and NOTHING would change

Angie would have been the perfect character to sacrifice as well, she’s just important enough that it would feel like ‘oh shit’s getting real’ but not so important that it’s unbelievable

(like Olivier. I could not fully believe they’d actually kill him, and the moment Laura told me ‘they never found the bodies’ I was like, oh, so they’re definitely all still alive, cool)

I mean, it would be a Bury Your Gays, but honestly... there are things I like about Angie, but is anyone really looking to her as a lesbian role model? I hope not. Yikes

So yeah I guess I hate George now for getting my hopes up and then being boring. Shame

I did the Towa romantic ending, of course. I genuinely think she’s the best match for Rean, of all his love interests

Chaaaracters

Rean: Still the least interesting person. Not a good sign when I’m sadder about the robot dying than the main protagonist yeeting himself into the sun (side note, the two endings thing? Unnecessary and dumb). There is no reason girls would like him this much, blah blah I’ve said it all before. Liked his new hair. Honestly would have respected it if they’d had the balls to kill him off. I basically never even used him in battle lol, Juna became my new team leader

Juna: Honourary protagonist imo. I’ve changed my mind since CS3, she’s my fav new Class VII without a doubt. She’s just really good and full of personality and depth and OH GOD WHY IS SHE CRUSHING ON REAN WHY FALCOM WHY

Kurt: pls falcom don’t try to force this aroace king into a nonsense ship with Sully I liked her but what are you doing, anyway Kurt is great and he got cool new swords and he got to hang out with Mueller, who I adore, I love Kurt

Altina: I also love this little bunny. Her relationship with Millium is so lovely and seeing her grow and become her own person made me so happy and OH GOD WHY IS SHE CRUSHING ON REAN WHY FALCOM I LITERALLY SAID SHE HAS THE BEST RELATIONSHIP WITH REAN OF ALL THE GIRLS BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T DO THAT IN THE LAST GAME WHY DO YOU HATE ME????

Musse: Yeah I’m still not sold on Musse but I liked her better this time! I like a smart, confident girl! Just stop being weird about your teacher and we’d be golden!

Ash: Good boy. Sweet boy. Ash and Joshua game now Falcom

Alisa: Still cannot believe she’s presented as the deuteragonist by the marketing - but you know what? Solid arc, she got some closure with her parents, maybe she and Jusis can get together for tea and complain about their messed up families. She’s never going to be a character I like all that much, but I don’t dislike her. I just wish she hadn’t clearly been written as ‘Rean’s love interest’ before anything else

Elliot: I love Elliot, I really do. I mean, I wish he hadn’t been flanderised to the point of speaking in music puns half the time, but he’s a solid, consistently pleasant character

Laura: Goddamnit Falcom please give Laura anything resembling an emotion regarding her dad dying. Also you tell me she’s kind of oblivious and stuff but we never see it. I like Laura but she really could have been more

Machias: I love Machias, fight me fan base. He’s so funny to me. It feels like, at this point, all he really wants is a nice office job, near a nice coffee shop, where he files papers and sometimes gets to yell at corrupt rich people, but NO, he has to run about in dungeons and fight monsters, and are you FUCKING kidding me, ANOTHER crazy snake cultist!?!? It’s great, he’s the only one who’s just done with it all and love it

I low key headcanon that he and Jusis are kinda dating at this point, but we don’t see anything because the games are from Rean’s POV and they don’t want to tell him because they know he’d be weird about it

Jusis: I still really like Jusis! He’s interesting, and his surrogate brother-sister relationship with Millium is so sweet (yes, I saw that bouquet catch, Falcom, and I hate it, stop it, gross). Awesome to see him confront his brother, obviously I let him have the final blow. Rufus was a great antagonist. Jusis has some of the best development over the games, and is also really fun to use in battle (apparently I am the only one who feels this way though :/ ah well)

Fie: I was surprised by how much I liked Fie’s confession scene, seeing as I don’t like Rean/Fie at ALL. Fie finally gets to have feelings about her dad, and we see her working with Zin at the end! Very happy for Fie, best girl

Emma: Ahhh I still find Emma kinda dull and exposition heavy, but she also had a nice arc, I liked her relationship with Rose, all good

Rose beat me at Vantage Masters for 40 minutes lol

Gaius: It’s still extremely funny to me that Gaius became one of the most important people on the continent *off screen*. And he still doesn’t really do anything. He has his own airship now, I guess. Justice for Gaius

Sara: Kind of faded from relevance after CS1, but I do really like her all the same. And I loved her speech at the end

Crow: At the end his hair got darker and everyone was like ‘you’re back to normal!’ and I literally did not realise he was meant to have been looking different

But anyway Crow is a really good character and I literally never didn’t enjoy him. I love the bit where Jusis and Machias team up to call him a cringy edgelord, because they are right. Crow is fantastic

Towa: Towa has never done anything wrong in her life and all of Erebonia should pay for her therapy

Patrick: I cannot believe how much I love Patrick now, compared to CS1. He’s just such a sweetie. Good boy

Elise: Take her to the sun with you, Rean. Pointless character

Alfin: Is she the heir now? I hope so. She’s such a funny character, not my fav, but I enjoyed her

Angie and George: Should have died, moving on

Celine: I love her, but did she really need a human form? No, no she did not. Great character though

Tita: Special mention, because you know what? I do not like this version of Tita! Like I said, I was reading FC recently and she was so much better there! Now a third of her lines are just her saying ‘Agate’ in various different tones. And it feels like she’s lost a lot of her confidence, where’s the little girl who followed us up Carnelia Tower? I would have preferred them to just not bring her back at all

Duvalie: Haha I love Duvalie she’s great. Stop implying that she’s crushing on Rean. Literally WHY would she. Ugh

Rose: Everything about Rose is great, I would play a full game about her backstory. More Rose

Ships!

Obviously I like Machias/Jusis because I am BASIC

I didn’t like Olivier/Schera back in Sky, but you know what? They sold me. It’s cute (even if I feel Schera’s character was neglected in favour of Being A Love Interest, sigh). Though I’m not sure when Olivier made the switch from ‘Schera is one of many people I flirt with’ to ‘Schera is my one and only’?

But am I the only person who’s kinda on the Oliver/Schera/Mueller train? I’m not normally into OT3s, but Olivier and Mueller have one of the best dynamics in the series, and Schera and Mueller would probably get along great if they were ever allowed to properly interact. And you know Olivier would be down

Like I say, I do not like Jusis/Millium at all, it’s not a ‘I like another ship better’ thing, it just massively skeeves me out because of the maturity difference 

Ash/Tatiana was unexpected but adorable

Patrick/Elise, because I want Patrick to be happy and Rean to be mad

Also Elise/Alfin, sorry Patrick

I hope Anton and Sharon really do get together. Sharon deserves unconditional love and Anton deserves a happy ending

Sharon also deserves to hook up with Sara like once

I also sort of feel like Sara/Claire would be fun

I’ve actually like Gaius/Linde from CS1, I’m happy it’s kind of a thing now!

If Lila/Maybelle is the LET’S GO LESBIANS Trails ship, then Emily/Theresia is LET’S GO BABY LESBIANS

Vincent/Margarita. They’re both horrible people. At least this way no one else has to deal with them

Joining my Kloe/Josette in the ‘crack ships I love that have very, very little canon basis’ is Fritz/Kairi, based on their interactions in that one mission and then that they’re eating together at Mishelam. It’s pretty much just a height differences thing, lol

Miles/Elnan. I have literally no justification for this

Other stuff There was this one scene where Gaius says how nice it is that Mueller cares about Olivier and Mueller just snaps his head round and the scene ends, and I don’t think it was meant to be funny but I laughed for like a full minute

The intro to the music at Mishelam is extremely creepy to me

I love the Pom Party mini game a whole lot

There were... a lot of typos in the second half of the script. It’s massive, so I’m not mad, but I hope there’s a patch at some point

BERYL BERYL BERYL BERYL BERYL I love her

Uh if we’re still doing romance next arc please give us a gay option, no Crow did not count

I hate divine knight battles! I really do! That last one against Ishmelga was really hard and not in a fun way! In a ‘this is bullshit fake difficulty’ way. Please don’t bring them back!

The true final battle, though? FANTASTIC, now THAT is a final boss! One of the best in the series, like that’s such a fun gimmick!

I got it trapped in break state and spammed Heaven’s Kiss/Quick Star, because I’m a strategic gamer 

I am embarrassed by how long it took me to recognise Lucy

KLOE CAMEO!!!

Oh and I assume Kaela is going to be important next arc, since it’s in Calvard?

I love Thomas??? And Rosine???

Why was the grandmaster reveal hidden behind watching the ending twice, why do that? Great scene, though

My theory is that she is Aidios, I will cling to this for as long as possible

I probably have like a million other things to say that I’m just not remembering right now. Look forward to random shouts into the void about it in upcoming weeks, followers

I really enjoyed this overall, despite the problems I mentioned above. It was just fun, I like the cast, the gameplay is great... just a solid game

Trails is a really fantastic franchise - not perfect, but what is? I’ve had such a fun time with it over the past half-year, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. Thank you, Falcom, the localisation team, the VAs - stellar job all around

This is normally where I’d end on a joke but like. Nah, I’m just happy. Cue ‘The Whereabouts of Light’

[dekiruherodeku]

FANTASY DRABBLE: REMEMBER YOUR ORIGINS (V)

[ Chapter V: Expected Encounter. ]

Man, Deku just really didn’t have it in him to turn away from those in need of help, after all. When he heard that a small, neighboring village had basically been taken over by bandits, he ended up asking which direction this village was before heading on over there the next day. The north-eastern region of the continent’s been all sorts of hostility left and right since the last time he, or well, just about anybody from UA Guild had been within area. Part of him had a solid feeling that, since he tried to decipher the scroll on the mechanical magic weapon, majority revolved around that very object. Prince Todoroki had been shot with it once; the freelancer himself even encountered a group of thieves where one or two of them had one; and with Rokusuke technically being a secretive outpost sentry nearby noting who came and went, it was pretty clear what changes had been done. Seems like Shie Hassakai has been distributing these weapons around within the northern half of the continent, and from the sounds of it they were handing it out under the radar to people who were up to no good as well. Something like this, he just couldn’t idly sit by, especially if it meant ransacking an entire village and pulling it by the reins.

Upon arriving, the freelancer was quick to notice the lack of security or overall density of people around the outskirts of the village. Loud commotions further on in encouraged him to sneak in to investigate, and when he reached the center of the whole village, he was met with a mass of what must’ve been the remainder of villagers, crying, whimpering, begging for mercy as they gazed up woefully at makeshift gallows.

It was a small bunch, really. No more than eight or so bandits along with the supposed leader hoping the ropes. Every single one of them, however, had that very same mechanical weapon that the Prince had brought back to the guild hall. These men were armed with magic weapons that apparently could fire quicker than the eye. A devilish grin played at the leader’s lips as he spoke out at the crowds. One by one, the man addressed each victim’s ‘crimes’, putting each one on the spotlight for what deeds they’re being executed for. An adolescent boy, an elder couple, a pissed off woman, and then a person with their minstrel’s hat somewhat large enough to let itself hang over the owner’s eyes.

All five of these people were going to be hanged for refusing or defending against the bandits. Deku needed to save them, but he had to think it through. Get too hasty, and he’ll risk having to fight all eight at once; but take too long, and he’ll fail to save those villagers and obvious outsider. Should he take some of the enemies out? Or save the people first? Stealth through as many as possible or reveal himself right from the get-go? The leader is the biggest concern, he’s holding those people’s lives on a thread after all... If it’s going to come down to it, then he’d just rather risk his life than let those people die.  Right, listen to your body. Less thinking, and more moving...! Rokusuke was always persistent about that, after all --- with the way Deku’s mind worked, he didn’t need to think up a plan right from the very start.

The second that the leader began to pull at the ropes, an arrow was shot right where they all tied together in a bundle, lodging it into the post it was hooked on and gluing it in place with green, adhesive substance. Deku had honestly been saving these ground-up materials for when he considered making something like ‘sticky bombs’ or alternative gauze in the future. When he found the material in his satchel, though he instantly stuck a big, gelatinous lump of it onto that arrow without thinking. Everyone was high on alert and confusion by the interruption, and he’d quickly tosses a small sack of explosive power into the air before shooting a hastily channeled fire arrow at it. Deku’s body instantly pushed itself forward, dropping his bow in the midst of the distraction before unsheathing his sword and aiming it right at the arms of the two occupying the bottom of the stairs.

He hadn’t meant to cut the arms clean off from the body on the guy behind the one in front. When he channeled lightning magic into his sword, he swung it down to hit the mechanical weapon and give the man one hell of a shock. It wasn’t until he shifted his gaze on the second man did he actually witness it --- from the very end of his sword, it was like his magic continued to trail forward like a projection with the momentum. A trail of a white-hot lightning slash cut down through the air, its movement almost like a whip, and when the other grunt had noticed it just in time he was only able to shove himself aside enough to sacrifice just his arms. Well, at least he won’t be firing any magic bullets at Deku any time soon.

A third bandit was just beginning to take the turn down the stairs when the freelancer somehow retracted the magic and fought off the first enemy in tow. Thanks to Rokusuke-- no, Dusk, he’d learned to somehow twist a fluid parry enough to swiftly turn the enemy’s on weapon against him. He wrapped his arm around the one with the magic weapon like a snake, forcing the man to aim at his own foot, and pulled the trigger to send the man tumbling down the stairs wailing in agony from a bleeding gunshot to the foot. 

The bandit atop the staircase pointed his gun, and Deku was just able to dodge in time for it to only graze his cheek and leave a cut. Lightning magic sparked about around his feet, and when the bandit tried shooting again he was wildly attempting to aim at the freelancer lunging up the stairs in a zig-zag, shooting himself off from the wooden railing and the posts below the gallows’ platform, leaving a surprising neon green in his wake. Deku tackled the third bandit to the floor. He whacked the back of his sword hilt on the enemy’s wrist to disarm his weapon before a karate chop on the back of the neck for a knock-out. He was immediately jumping onto his feet again with the help of his magic, and then---

---B A N G .

Pain shot through his right thigh, a hole on both ends when the magic bullet pierced right through the flesh. It stunted his prepared lunge, made the freelancer fall flat forward before he could even catch himself. Smoke fumed from the end of the weapon’s barrel in the hands of the leader, and he scoffed rather mockingly as he approached the young man.

“‘Nother troublemaker tryna play hero, ‘uh? Jus’ ‘cause you got fancy tricks up yer sleeves?” He kicked Deku’s sword ways away when he tried to force himself back up onto his feet, and then he kicked the freelancer square in the jaw before spatting on his face and readying his magic weapon with a click. “‘Second you stopped, and now yer sprawled out all p’thetic-like on the floors of the gallows. No escapin’ from these babies, lemme tell ya.”

There was a devious chuckle as the leader gestured to his weapon, now aiming it right at Deku’s head alongside the remaining five. Deku clenched his teeth, his mind wildly scrambling to slip right out of this.

“Huh... Now that I got a good look at you, I finally figured out why you seemed so familiar.” The leader leaned in a bit closer, and then felt a sinister grin tug at a corner of his lips. “Yeah, you’re that greenie boy those cult freaks wanted. Told us to capture you should we ever find ya.”

“Too bad we ‘accidentally had to kill ya in the middle of the fight’. Guess if you’re here, though, then that little girl they asked for much be ‘round, too. S’okay, she fetches at a much higher price than you do, anyways.”

Something about his and his lackeys laughter seemed to struck a tightly-woven nerve in Deku’s mind. There was no way he’d let anyone get their hands on Eri, even if she isn’t even with him right now! She’d gone through too much, and they all cared about her too much. This intense look in Deku’s eyes fiercely grew with vehement resolution. He could feel the tattoo over his chest beginning to sear through the skin just to resonate with his heart.

Never. He’s never going to let her or anybody like her ever suffer again...! Not now. And not ever..!!

“Ah...! So you actually ended up bearing One for All after all.”

A magic bullet was fired, but suddenly it phased out of existence in the blink of an eye, looking as if it phased through an invisible wall and into another dimension right in front of Deku’s face. Instead of the freelancer going limp on the floor, there was a sharp, painful yell as one of the bandits behind the leader instantly collapsed to the ground, clutching his hand and staring at the wide and bloody hole one could see right through. Something like a familiar sensation wafted over Deku when his eyes trailed over at the other outsider moving up onto their feet, leaving him in a state of awe, bewilderment, confusion. It wasn’t until he felt the wind pick up, and watched the leaves encircle the remaining villains before going razor sharp to slash at their arms to drop the weapons before they were lifted into the air, did he realize where he’d felt this type of magic play out before.

“I knew you’d have it in you, Adventurer Deku.” This outsider’s expression went bright as they tipped their hat up to smile for a greeting. Pale-cream locks of curly hair danced with the wind about them underneath their minstrel’s hat, and when both of the two had their eyes meet, theirs shone in a brilliant emerald hue. “I actually expected you to come sooner or later.”

They, too, were a shaman, just like Yuu.

[ Previous: Chapter IV, Parting Gifts. ] [ Next: Chapter VI, Another Shaman. ]