#tales of the tempest

[demifiendrsa]

Japanese illustrator and animator Mutsumi Inomata has passed away on March 10, 2024 at age 63. A cause of death was not shared.

Inomata is best known as one of the main character designer on a number of Bandai Namco's Tales of series. Her past works includeTales of Destiny, Tales of Eternia, Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Rebirth, Tales of the Tempest, Tales of Innocence, Tales of Hearts, Tales of Graces, Tales of Xillia, Tales of Xillia 2, Tales of Zestiria, Tales of Berseria, and Tales of Crestoria.

Within anime, Inomata worked as an animator at Ashi Production from 1979 until 1982, when she and some animators from Ashi Production left the company and founded Kaname Production. There, she worked as character designer and animator on such anime as Acrobunch - The Quest for Treasure, Plawres Sanshiro, Leda - The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko, Once Upon a Time, and Watt Poe to Bokura no Ohanashi, among others. In her later freelance career, she drew character designs for such anime as Future GPX Cyber Formula, Saitama Bōsō Saizensen Flag! Shinimonogurui no Seishun!!, and Brain Powerd. She also drew the illustrations for the Utsunomiko and The Weathering Continent novel series, both of which later inspired anime adaptations.

[veemo4]

We are so fucking back

[seine-draws]

Twitter requests

[talesoftheraysen]

Translated by Seine. Proofread by Aera and Scarfy. Video editing by Scarfy.

[chengfagshi]

Pink haired Tales of characters.

[ofcourseimdoingwork]

Finally finished up charm designs for all the tales protags! Who’s your favorite?

Once I hit hearts it felt like it took forever to color each one, I really do miss the simplistic designs of the earlier games

[kresnikcest]

from the Tales of the World: Reve Unitia Fan's Bible

[shirtlessanimeboy]

Caius' shirt flies up, from the OP of the video game Tales of the Tempest.

[somacruising]

Tales of the Rays: Mirrage Prison

Chapter 6: The Atoning Hero and Remorseful Chosen (Part 3)

(Part 1+2) | (Part 4)

Welcome back to the next part of Tales of the Rays! Here, we get a flashback with Kratos and Mithos back on their original world, as well as the members of the Salvation Front hunting down and finding Mithos.

Part 3 (6-3 Lotus Imperial Villa)

Mithos: Oh, that’s good. I'm happy to hear that my sister's sickness is on the mend. …Without her, I’d really be all alone. 良かった。姉さまのオゼット風邪が快復に向かってて。……姉さまがいなくなったらボク、本当にひとりぼっちになっちゃうから。

Kratos: …You won’t be alone. I’m here, and so is Yuan. ……お前は一人ではない。私もユアンもいる。

Mithos: I don’t care about Yuan… Kratos, you’re…a unique human. But, you’re still a human and that means you’ll die long before me, you know? ユアンは別にどうでもいいけど……。クラトスは……人間じゃない。人間はボクよりずっと早く死んじゃうんだよ？

Kratos: I know. I’m undoubtedly going to die earlier than you. But…I’ll be sure to leave my soul to you when I die. そうだな。確かに私はお前よりは早く死ぬだろう。だが……私が死んでも私の魂はお前に託すつもりだ。

Mithos: Your soul? What, does that mean you’re planning to become a ghost so you can stay with me? 魂？あさは、それって、クラトスが幽霊になってボクのそばにいてくれるってこと？

Kratos: No, that’s not what I mean. I would if it were possible, but I have no idea what happens after death. いや、そうではない。できるものならそうしてやりたいが死後のことなど私にはわからぬ。

Kratos: But, maybe I can give you some guidance on how to live… No, saying it outloud is too cliché. I’ll stop. だが、どう生きるのかという指針を……。いや、言葉にすると陳腐だな。やめておこう。

Mithos: …No, I understand. You’re saying that your way of living will remain inside my heart. ……ううん。わかったよ。ボクの心にクラトスの生き方が残るってことだよね。

Mithos: That’s how you’re going to guide me, right? In that case, I’ll feel a little less lonely. そんな風にボクを導いてくれるってことでしょ？そうしたらボクも少しは寂しくなくなるね。

Kratos: I don’t know if I can actually lead you that way… そのように導けるのかはわからぬが……。

Mithos: Fufu, I’m looking forward to it, Kratos-sensei! ふふ、期待してます。クラトス先生！

Kratos: (In the end, I wasn’t able to guide Mithos. But, in this world, I—) (結局私はミトスを導けなかった。だが、せめてこの世界では——)

     [ Scene Change ]

Zelos: Hey, Kratos! I finally found you! Why were you flying all the way over here? We've been looking for you for hours. おい、クラトス!やっと見つけたぞ！なんでこんなところを飛んでたんだよ。捜すの大変だったんだぞ。

Sync: I’m relieved you’ve found your long-lost daddy, Idiot Chosen. 迷子のパパを見つけられて良かったねバカ神子。

Kratos: …I don’t recall becoming the Chosen’s father. ……私は神子の父親になった記憶はないが。

Zelos: Funny, that. I’ve become a son, too. We can talk about our horrible memories later. Tell us what you’re doing out here. 奇遇だな。俺さまも息子になった。おぞましい記憶はねーよ。で、何してんだよ。

Kratos: I apologize. I don’t have time for this. There’s somewhere I need to go. すまない。少し時間をくれ。行かねばならないところがあるのだ。

     [ Scene Change ]

Mithos: Get out of my way!! そこをどけ！！

Caius: Mithos! What the hell is going on!? This isn’t like you! ミトス！どうしちまったんだよ！いつものお前らしくないぞ！

Mithos: “Isn’t like me”? What the hell do you know about me!? いつものボク？お前にボクの何がわかるって言うんだ！

Shing: …Tsch. Caius, you have to get away, at least. My legs…I can’t… ……くっ。カイウス、お前だけでも逃げる。オレは……足が……。

Caius: I won’t leave you! 逃げられる訳ないだろ！

Caius: Hey, Mithos, you and Mercuria were the first people in this world to accept that I was a Leimon… a Lycanth, right!? なあ、ミトス。この世界でオレのレイモーン……獣人の姿を認めてくれたのはお前とメルクリアが最初だっただろ！？

Caius: That’s enough for me! I may not know anything else, but you’re a good person! それ���十分だ！他のことなんか知らないけどお前はいい奴だ！

Mithos: I’m not childish enough to be calmed by being called a good person. Move aside or I’ll kill you!! いい奴だって言われて喜ぶほど子供じゃない。どかないなら殺す！！

     [ Mithos starts to approach them, when Kratos appears ]

Kratos: Stop it, Mithos! やめろ、ミトス！

Caius: Huh…? え……？

Mithos: ！？

Kratos: You’re sword lacks meaning. それは無意味な剣だ。

Mithos: —You…how dare you show your face to me. You filthy, traitorous human!! ——よくも……よくもボクの前に顔を出せたな。裏切り者の薄汚い人間！！

Kratos: That’s right. But, no matter how much you hate me, I will not sit by and allow you to continue swinging that sword so foolishly. その通りだ。だが、どれだけ恨まれ憎まれても、これ以上お前にこのような愚かな剣を振るわせるつもりはない。

Mithos: Don’t you dare start acting like my teacher! I let you off the hook once, but now you’re betraying me twice! 今更、偉そうに師匠ヅラするな！一度は見逃してあげたのに二回もボクを裏切って！

Kratos: I’ve decided to start over. I cannot change what I did in our old world. それでも私はやり直すと決めた。それはこの異世界でも変わらぬ。

Kratos: I should have never decided to fall with you just to get you what you wanted, nor should I have betrayed you and hunted you down. 私がやるべきだったのは、お前の望みを叶えるために共に墜ちることでもお前を裏切り追い詰めることでもなかった。

Kratos: I neglected any real attempt to save you from your suffering. お前を苦しみから救う努力をすることを私は怠っていた。

Mithos: ………。

Kratos: I’ve wished many times that I could turn back the clock. But that’s impossible. And here, you and I are nothing but reflections. 時を巻き戻せるならと何度も思った。しかしそれはできぬ。そしてここでは私もお前も単なる影にすぎぬ。

Kratos: Still—no, that’s exactly why I want to take this chance to right my wrongs. それでも——いや、だからこそ過ちを正す機会をくれ。

Mithos: …I’m not doing anything wrong. Those who hurt others should be prepared to face consequences. ……ボクは、間違ってなんていない。他人に害を与えた者は、その報いを受ける���悟をするべきだ。

Mithos: You should know that, Kratos. You’ve already gotten revenge. You killed Kvar—you and Lloyd. クラトスもわかってる筈だよ。自分だって仇を討った。クヴァルを殺したんだから。ロイドと一緒に。

Kratos: I did. I couldn’t control my desire for revenge when faced with the one who killed my wife. All I got out of it was a momentary sense of elation and accomplishment. そうだな。私は妻を殺された復讐心を抑えられなかった。その結果、私に生まれたのは一瞬の高揚感と達成感だった。

Kratos: But it didn’t last long. All those feelings vanished and all I had left was an empty void. No matter what I do, Anna…will never come back. しかしそれはすぐに消える。消えた後に。残るのはむなしさだ。どれだけ手を尽くしてもアンナは……妻は戻らぬ。

Mithos: …So what? Are you trying to say something nice about how revenge is pointless? ……それで？復讐は何も生まないなんて綺麗事を言うの？

Kratos: I am. I can’t deny revenge itself, not after I fulfilled my own desires the way I did. そうだな。自らの欲望を果たした私には復讐そのものを否定することはできない。

Kratos: But, Mithos, even if revenge was the right option, the ones you want to take revenge on all died long ago. だが、ミトス。もし復讐��許されるとしてもお前がその気持ちを向けるべき者はすでに死んだ。

Kratos: You’re using your desire to save Martel as an excuse to hold onto your hatred. I recognize that now.  お前は憎しみという感情を、マーテルを救うための免罪符にしてしまった。私もそれを認めてしまった。

Kratos: That’s all I wanted to say. I was wrong. すまなかった。私が間違っていた。

Kratos: ………。

Sync & Zelos: ………。

Mithos: …That’s enough. I’m not interested in talking about this anymore. Kratos, heal Shing. You can do that much, at least. ……もういい。気がそがれた。クラトス、シングを回復して。それぐらいはやってくれるでしょう。

Mithos: Also, Zelos, you fly that masked guy over there. I’ll take Caius and Kratos can carry Shing. あとゼロス、そこの仮面の奴をつれて飛んで。ボクはカイウスをクラトスはシングをつれて飛ぶ。

Mithos: There's a hill a little further down the road that the Imperials rarely go to, so we'll go there. 少し先に、帝国の連中が滅多に来ない丘があるからそこへ行く。

Sync: Heh… What a surprise. I noticed an Imperial messenger came sniffing around during that lovers’ quarrel of yours. へぇ……。案外やるね。アンタたちの痴話喧嘩の間に、帝国の伝令兵がここへ来てたこと、気づいてたんだ。

Caius & Shing: ！？

Zelos: Well, it wasn’t like he was particularly good at hiding himself. まあ、気配を消すのが下手くそな兵士だったしな。

Kratos: Which unit was he from? あれはどこの部隊の兵士なのだ？

Mithos: It was Richter, judging from the armband. While he might have missed me, it’s still more trouble than it’s worth. I’m not staying. 腕章からしてリヒターだ。見逃してくれそうな気もするけど色々面倒だからね。逃げるよ。

Caius: Hey, did you notice any soldiers here? なぁ、兵士なんてきてたか？

Shing: No, I didn’t notice anything at all, there were too many confusing things happening… いや、突然訳のわからない喧嘩が始まったから、全然気づかなかったよ……。

(Part 1+2) | (Part 4)

[ssspicaaa]

[tales-of-asteria-rips]

[talesfemslashweek]

The prompts for Tales of Femslash Week Winter 2023 are here! It takes place on February 12th - 18th, 2023, and our theme this time is "Fairy tales and folklore"!

The event is a little over two months away, but I did want to make sure everyone has enough time to work on things. If you still don't, remember that late works are okay!

If you have a Twitter, feel free to check us out there too! https://twitter.com/TalesFslashWeek

[berylliumcoffee]

Triverse: - Breaking Point -

Felt like drawing the Protags of Tempest, Innocence, and Hearts at their breaking point. It first started out as a drawing of just Caius, but then I felt like drawing Ruca and Shing as well 😊. It’s somewhat my first time drawing Caius in his Leymon form and it looks very unhinged to me 😂

[talesoftheraysen]

[mamthew]

Final Fantasy XVI's similarities to Tales of Arise have me on a Tales kick, which means I ended up playing Tales of the Tempest, widely considered the worst game intended to be a mainline Tales title. It took me about 15 hours and I did every sidequest I found, all of which involved walking across a field map at a frustratingly slow pace to pick up an item and then walking all the way back for a line of dialogue and a negligible amount of money. I easily could have shaved at least two hours off my playtime and I wouldn't have lost anything.

Tempest is a 2005 japan-only release for the DS developed by Dimps, the freelancers behind most handheld Sonic games and a good chunk of handheld licensed games, especially for DBZ and Digimon. When it dropped, it received so much hate from fans that Namco pretty quickly pulled it from the list of mainline Tales games, though they've recently quietly added it back to the list. They developed two more DS Tales games afterwards, in-house, and to fan approval, which makes Tempest even more interesting to me, as a first, failed attempt at a handheld Tales game.

It's definitely a bad game. Everything that involves a menu takes about three more button presses than necessary, the world takes a long time to travel for no good reason, the models are low poly and the textures are worse. The battle system is so unnecessarily limited that it's honestly barely worth engaging with. You only get four arte slots, and the protagonist's main gimmick is that he can turn into a werewolf when under half health, but transformation takes up an arte slot, so he functionally only has three. CPU-controlled characters also will only use moves assigned to their four arte slots. And there's no access to the artes menu in battle. Two of the five characters are werewolves, so only have three slots. Two more are mage/healer combos, so you have to divide their four slots between both offensive and healing spells. They balance this by making healing items unbelievably cheap and easy to obtain. Lemon and Pineapple Gels are 90 gald each. Miracle Gels are available in all stores for about 200 gald each. I ended the game with 80k gald.

The game has five party members, but only the protagonist, Caius, gets enough focus and story relevance that I'd consider him a character. Of the four main villains, two end up being his father and his brother. Another villain wears a mask and has the same hair color as the female lead, so I figured they'd be related in some way, but no, the female lead is so coincidental to the story that despite being on the box, she's the only character whose name I don't remember. Two of the party members, Tilkis and Forest, are the prince of a country you never see and his bodyguard. The last party member, Arria, is a priestess with the evil church who's sent to spy on the party, immediately gains their trust with no effort, and then immediately turns coat on the church when pushed. There's not much there.

That said, the lore has weirdly a lot of potential. About a century ago, humans committed genocides against the werewolf and ogre races, which carved out space for the human country to take over as the main superpower on the continent. Now, the human church is carrying out an inquisition against werewolves once again for unknown reasons, stoking fear against werewolves among the populace by spreading false rumors and executing any werewolves delivered to them without trial. This is pretty standard rpg stuff, but it's made interesting about halfway in, when it's revealed that the church is capturing werewolves to try to learn about a magic spell the werewolf country once had that was able to resurrect the dead. The goal of the inquisition is to gain and use this spell to resurrect all the victims of that genocide, thus making humans no longer culpable for the sins of their ancestors.

It's a fucking good hook, honestly. It reminds me of current debates around history education and white guilt. The church figures they can commit any violence they want in the present, as once they get that spell, the dead will come back anyway, so they won't have done anything wrong. The best parts of the game are when Caius tries to make his adversaries understand that making the dead no longer dead doesn't fix torture or generations of oppression. It doesn't rebuild the ruined werewolf city, return their lost poetry, or make their two countries relative equals on the global stage once more.

Unfortunately, they don't do a ton with this one really good idea. It's revealed near the end that the spell was a lie (it actually opens a portal to an evil dimension), the war between werewolves and humans was a lie (the werewolves opened a portal to an evil dimension and humans took credit for their fall for some reason), and the genocide against the ogres was inconsequential (ogres are not sentient and didn't have a country to begin with, they just stay north of the wall). It's like they understood that Tales games are known for their twists but didn't understand what a twist needs to do in order to change a story for the better. Just a strange game all around.

[ofcourseimdoingwork]

The newest issue of Dark Wings Digest is done! It will be available at Rappig Crossing(and on my shop after). The theme for this issue is Science & Technology, and like always it’s 24 full color pages and has at least one character from each mainline game. 

For this one we really wanted to put a spotlight on Tempest, Innocence, Arise, and Luminaria, so if any of those are favorites of yours this would be a good one to check out!