Previous Part: Reunion

Storyline text and attempted translations from...

Final Fantasy VI

Narshe Cliffs  | | | | | | |

And the party finally reaches the icy cliffs above the town. The music stops. Bannan is somehow here even though he didn't walk up with everyone else. There's limited space to maneuver, making this an ideal defensive position. After a chance to equip everyone and save, the player splits the fighters into three groups.

There's a lot of fighting coming up (unless you dodge around most of it), so good equipment and viable parties are important. To start with, I recommend giving everyone a Green Beret, which combines good defense with a small but useful bonus to max HP. As noted previously, fighting the Satellite enemy in the Imperial Army Encampment allows you to get these in unlimited quantities on the Beast Plain with a little patience.

Tina functions best as a mage here, and should wear a Silk Robe to complement this. Feel free to also use normal attacks as the situation warrants to conserve MP. Equip and use Celes similarly, except that she can also defend against certain attacks and regain some MP in the process with Magicseal Sword. Don't give either of them the Rune Blade (Rune Edge). Its guaranteed criticals just aren't worth the MP they burn through, so stick with the Greatsword (RegalCutlass).

Edgar and Cayenne are stuck wearing either the Iron Armor with its agility penalty or the much weaker Leather Armor. Either way, weapons don't matter, since both should spam skill attacks, specifically the Bio Blast (Bio Blaster) and Blast Voice (NoiseBlaster) for Edgar, and Fang (Dispatch) for Cayenne.

Mash should similarly spam skills. Use Houou no Mai (Fire Dance) if you have it, and Aura Cannon (AuraBolt) if you don't or against single targets.

Lock can't match the others in skill attacks, but he's still speedy and can Steal, attack, or pass out items as needed. The Air Knife (Air Lancet) is surprisingly powerful for this point in the game, or he could wield a Main Gauche (Guardian) for agility. Or, if you got the Genji's Bracer (Genji Glove) from the Returners earlier, he can use both. Regardless, avoid the Iron Armor's agility penalty.

Gau is unpredictable as usual, but can devastate groups with Wind Scythe (Wind Slash) from the Guard Leader (Marshal) Rage, or take large chunks out of single targets with Cat Kick (Catscratch) from the Stray Cat Rage. Even his normal attack isn't bad, it's just nothing special.

If you stripped Mog and Shadow of their equipment earlier, you have some choices to make. Mog's Mithril Shield is useful for anyone, but since Mash and Gau are the only characters here who can't use a Large Shield, one of them should get it. Lock, Mash, and Gau are all able to use Shadow's Shinobi Garb (Ninja Gear), so give it to one of them and let the others wear Kung Fu Suits. Edgar can use Mog's Mithril Spear, but it hardly matters since he should be using skills anyway.

Consider using the Earring accessory to boost damage for anyone using magic-based attacks, the Giant's Bracer (Altas Armlet) or Hyper Wrist for anyone using any physical attacks, the Black Belt for anyone with a good attack power, the Gauntlet or Genji's Bracer for anyone using weapon attacks (mostly Lock), Hermes's Shoes (RunningShoes) to boost someone's speed, and the White Cape to help dodge. There isn't much else in the way of useful accessories at this point.

A moogle offers to explain what to do.

3つのパーティーに分かれて戦います。
(Y)ボタンを使って、パーティーを
きりかえてください。
バナンのいるところまで、攻めこまれ
たら、負けです。
その前に、ケフカをたおしてください。
You'll fight divided into three parties.
Use the Y button to switch between parties.
If you let them reach Bannan, you lose.
Beat Cefca before then.
You'll fight in 3 groups.
Use the Y Button to switch between them.
Defeat Kefka before his men reach Banon. Otherwise, you lose!

And with the explanation complete, it's time for some action...

バナン「来るぞ!! Bannan: Here they come!! BANON: They're coming!

1-23 "Save Them!", an energetic tune suited for an extended battle, starts playing. Cefca walks in at the bottom of the cliffs.

ケフカ「ほー……
 裏切り者の{セリス}将軍も
 おいでですか……
 ちょうどいい。まとめて始末して
 あげましょう!!
Cefca: Oh...?
 So General {Celes} the traitor
 is here too...
 Perfect. Let's wrap everything up
 and take care of all of you!!
KEFKA: Oho!!
It's General {CELES}, the traitor!
How delightful! This'll be fun!

He laughs one of his trademark deranged Cefca laughs, and a large group of Imperial soldiers file in behind him.

ケフカ「ゆけ!!
 むしけらどもを、けちらせ!!
Cefca: Go!!
 Kick those worms' butts!!
KEFKA: Go!!
Get those vile insects!

And the soldiers begin advancing. But with three parties, it's quite simple to block off every possible approach. Each party, if chosen fairly well, has relatively little difficulty dispatching whatever attackers come at them, with group attacks particularly useful. It's the endurance factor that's the challenge here.

...though as several people attempting low-level games or speed runs have found, it's possible to avoid every battle except the one with Cefca. I don't personally recommend it, though, since you'll miss a number of monsters that way, and you do want them all to appear on the Beast Plain, right? At least fight the Hell's Harley just before Cefca, and steal a Mithril Plate (common) or Elixir (rare). Or if you really want more, just steal, lose intentionally, and come back for another round, since losing a battle here doesn't mean Game Over as long as none of the enemies reach Bannan.

It's also interesting to note that the Heavy Armor enemies will kick off battles with Sorcery Barrier ('protect' + 'reflect') if Celes is in the party, apparently recognizing her and acting to counter her magic. You should have plenty of attack options from other characters that ignore both defensive measures, though.

If you take the defensive option, then eventually the only attacker left is Cefca himself. This lets you do pretty much whatever you feel like, including talking to the various player characters. It's interesting, so...

{ティナ}「ケフカ…
 私にあやつりの輪をつけた…?
{Tina}: Cefca...
 put the manipulation ring on me...?
{TERRA}: Kefka...
He stuck that crown on me?
{ロック}「帝国め!
 好きにはさせん!!
{Lock}: Damn Empire!
 I won't let you have your way!!
{LOCKE}: Bloody Empire!!
We are your worst enemy!
{エドガー}「ケフカめ…
 何をたくらんでいる……
{Edgar}: Damn you, Cefca...
 What are you plotting...?
{EDGAR}: Kefka...grr...
What's he up to...?
{マッシュ}「師ダンカンの技、ここに
 さえわたる!
{Mash}: Master Duncan's skills
 will shake things up here!
{SABIN}: Master Duncan's techniques mustn't fail me.
{セリス}「昔の私とは決別した…
 もう、帝国とは関係のない人間だっ!
{Celes}: I have parted with my past self...
 I have nothing more to do with the Empire!
{CELES}: I'm free...
The Empire can't control me!
{カイエン}「ドマの民のかたき…
 かならずとる!!!
{Cayenne}: Revenge for Doma's people...
 is mine to take!!!
{CYAN}: I will avenge the people of Doma!
{ガウ}「{ガウ}
 がんばる{ガウ}!
{Gau}: {Gau}!
 {Gau} hold strong!
{GAU}: {GAU} hit hard!!!
バナン「わしのところまで攻めこまれたら
 アウトじゃ。
 戦士達よ、たのんだぞ!
Bannan: It's all over if their
 invasion reaches me.
 Warriors, I'm counting on you!
BANON: We're history if they reach me!
Good luck!

Enough stalling. It's time to take Cefca down... On average, two thirds of Cefca's actions will be magic, and while his spells aren't strong enough to call devastating, they still hurt, and some inflict status effects. Celes can absorb his magic if she faces him, and Lock can steal an Ether Turbo (common) or Elixir (rare).

If you prefer dirty tricks, Cefca is vulnerable to 'stop' status. Can't inflict 'stop' yet? Think again. The Alacrán (Areneid) and Acrophies (Primordite) Rages each have a no-damage attack that inflicts 'stop', and both are available now. Acrophies is slightly preferable, as Alacrán's Ice weakness against the possiblity of two different spells that strike it, both ○ Blizzara as well as the weaker ○ Blizzard, is worse than a possible ○ Thunder against Acrophies's Thunder weakness.

クッ……!
これで勝ったと思うなよ!
Kh...!
Don't think this means you've won!
Don't think you won.
I'll be back!

Overall, he's really not that tough, all things considered. Cefca flees, dropping a Tranquility Ring, and the music stops.

ケフカ「クワァー!
 おぼえていろよ!!!
Cefca: Kwaaaa!
 You'll pay for this!!!
KEFKA: Aack!!
I won't forget this!
{エドガー}「幻獣は?
{ロック}「無事か!?
{Edgar}: The Genjuu?
{Lock}: Is it safe!?
{EDGAR}: Where's the Esper?
{LOCKE}: Is it okay?

Everyone (except Bannan) heads up to the very top of the cliff, where the Genjuu, still trapped in solid ice, rests on a large outcropping of rock...

{エドガー}「氷づけの幻獣は無事か…
{カイエン}「それにしても…
 生きているようでござるな…
{マッシュ}「まさか…?
{Edgar}: So the icebound Genjuu's safe...
{Cayenne}: And beyond that...
 it doth seem alive...
{Mash}: Could it be...?
{EDGAR}: That was a close call!
{CYAN}: Can it still be alive?
{SABIN}: Impossible...right?!

Tina seems frightened and shrinks back. Lock steps between her and the Genjuu, and Edgar and Mash move to her sides.

{ロック}「{ティナ}!!
 どうした!!!
{Lock}: {Tina}!!
 What's wrong!?
{LOCKE}: {TERRA}!!
What is it!?

The Genjuu starts glowing, and with a flash of light, Lock is tossed to the side, almost falling off the edge. Celes, who happens to be the closest, helps him back onto solid ground. Everyone crowds around Tina, because of course there's no possible way that could go wrong.

{ティナ}「いやあ!!! {Tina}: NOOO!!! {TERRA}: Nooo!!

The wind noises stop. Another flash of light follows, and everyone except Tina is flung to the edges of the outcropping. A blue glow pulses, and Tina steps haltingly toward the Genjuu...

{マッシュ}「幻獣と{ティナ}が……
{エドガー}「反応しているのか!?
{Mash}: The Genjuu and {Tina}...
{Edgar}: Are reacting!?
{SABIN}: {TERRA} 'n the Esper...
{EDGAR}: There's...some kinda reaction!

Why so surprised? Didn't they come here seeking a reaction in hopes of awakening the Genjuu? Maybe it's just a case of having to see it to believe it...

As in their first encounter, the screen switches to a combat view, with "Another World of Beasts" playing. The Genjuu pulses with light several times, and Tina glows too as if in response...

{ティナ}
「何!? この感覚!?
{Tina}:
What!? What's this feeling!?
{TERRA}:
What!? What am I feeling?!

Both glow again.

{ティナ}
「えっ?何 今なんて……
{Tina}:
Huh? What, what just...?
{TERRA}:
Huh? W......what's going on......?

And again.

{ティナ}
「ねえ、教えて!
 わたしは誰? 誰なの!
{Tina}:
Come on, tell me!
Who am I? Who!?
{TERRA}:
Please......tell me!
Who am I? WHO?!

And again.

{ロック}
「{ティア}!
{Lock}:
{Tina}!
{LOCKE}:
{TERRA}!

And again.

{セリス}
「幻獣と……
 反応するというの……!
{Celes}:
She's actually reacting...
with a Genjuu...!?
{CELES}:
An Esper......
I can actually feel its mind......

Um, yeah. No comment.

And again.

{エドガー}
「{ティナ}……
 幻獣から…… はなれろ……
{Edgar}:
{Tina}...
Step away... from the Genjuu...
{EDGAR}:
{TERRA}......
Step away from the Esper......

And again. But now, the reaction grows more intense, as it did during the previous encounter. Only this time, there's no explosion. And Tina... changes...

Tina  →  Tina... UNLEASHED (or something)

...and as if that wasn't strange enough, the music fades out, and she takes off into the air and flies away with an unearthly noise... across the mountains and who knows where else. The screen fades to black. When it fades back in, "Awakening" starts playing, and Lock is lying in the same bed where Tina woke up near the beginning of the game, with Celes standing somewhat nearby. The others are out in the main room.

{ロック}「うっ……
{セリス}「気がついた?
{Lock}: Oof...
{Celes}: You awake?
{LOCKE}: Unhh...
{CELES}: You're awake?

Celes has finally dropped the rough masculine edge from her speech, though she's still avoiding anything feminine.

Lock leaps out of bed, not quite literally.

{ロック}「{ティナ}は!? {Lock}: What happened to {Tina}!? {LOCKE}: ...
Where's {TERRA}?!
{セリス}「何かに変身して……
 そのまま、どこかへ行ってしまった。
 あれは、まるで……
{Celes}: She turned into something...
 and flew off somewhere like that.
 She almost seemed...
{CELES}: She changed into a...something, and...took off.
She looked like...
{セリス}「あれは、まるで……
 幻獣のようだった……
{Celes}: She almost seemed...
 like a Genjuu...
{CELES}: She looked like...
an Esper...

Edgar walks into the room.

{エドガー}「{ロック}!
 気がついたか!!
{Edgar}: {Lock}!
 So you're awake!!
{EDGAR}: {LOCKE}!
You okay?
{エドガー}「{ティナ}に
 何かがおきた…
 幻獣と{ティナ}には何か
 関係があるのか? ともかく…
{ティナ}を助け出そう。
もくげきした者の情報によれば
フィガロの西へ、ものすごいスピードで
飛んでいったらしい……
{Edgar}: Something happened to {Tina}...
 Is there some connection between
 the Genjuu and her? In any case...
Let's help {Tina} out.
According to eyewitness information,
she flew west of Figaro, going a
mindboggling speed...
{EDGAR}: Something happened to {TERRA}... There seems to be some connection between Espers and her...
Anyway, we need to find her.
Witnesses saw her screaming across the sky to the west.
{ロック}「はやく行こう!
 俺は守ると約束したんだ!
{Lock}: Let's hurry and go!
 I promised to protect her!
{LOCKE}: Let's go!
I promised her I'd...
{セリス}「{ロック}……
{エドガー}「まあ待て。
 帝国はまた、このナルシェの幻獣を
 ねらってくるかもしれん。
{マッシュ}「バナン様の護衛も
 必要だ…
{Celes}: {Lock}...
{Edgar}: Now, wait.
 The Empire might come after
 the Genjuu here in Narshe again.
{Mash}: Bannan-sama needs some
 bodyguards too...
{CELES}: {LOCKE}...
{EDGAR}: Think, people!
The Empire still wants that Esper.
{SABIN}: Banon needs our help, too...

I know what you're thinking, Celes. "Does Lock promise to protect EVERY girl he meets?" Don't worry, it's only the especially pretty ones O:-). Now, Edgar, on the other hand... you can tell just how distracted he is—he's barely tried flirting with her at all!

{カイエン}「もと帝国の兵士…
 だが、あの娘は助け出さなければ
 ならないでござる!
{Cayenne}: A former Imperial soldier...
 But we must assist that girl!
{CYAN}: A former Imperial soldier...
But we've no choice.
We must help her!
{エドガー}「ふたてに分かれて
 {ティナ}を助けに行こう。
 残ったメンバーはナルシェを守る。
フィガロ城を使えば西の地へ
行くことができる。
たぶん、コーリンゲンかジドールに何か
てがかりがあるはずだ。
{Edgar}: Let's split into two groups
 and have one go help {Tina}.
 The rest of us will protect Narshe.
We can get to the western lands
if we use Figaro Castle.
There ought to be some leads
in Kohlingen or Jidoor.
{EDGAR}: Let's split up.
Those who aren't searching for {TERRA} will stay and guard Narshe.
Figaro Castle can shuttle us to the western province.
Then we'll make for Kohlingen or Jidoor.

Up to four of the six characters can go with the main group, and the rest stay in Jun's house. The player can switch members here, and only here, at any time, until otherwise noted. Whenever there are more than four available party members, those not in the active group have brief lines if spoken to. For now, they are:

{ロック}「俺は{ティナ}に…
 守ってやると言ったんだ…
{Lock}: I told {Tina}...
 I'd protect her...
{LOCKE}: I promised {TERRA}
I'd...keep her safe...
{エドガー}「{ティナ}をたのむ! {Edgar}: Take care of {Tina}! {EDGAR}: Find {TERRA}!
{マッシュ}「ナルシェは
 俺が守る。
 {ティナ}をはやく!
{Mash}: I'll protect Narshe.
 Hurry up with {Tina}!
{SABIN}: I'll watch over Narshe!
Go quickly!
{セリス}「飛び去ったあの姿…
 まるで幻獣のようだった…
{Celes}: How she looked when she flew off...
 She almost seemed like a Genjuu...
{CELES}: She ripped outta here!
Looked just like...an Esper...
{カイエン}「あの娘、必ず助けてやって
 くれでござる!
{Cayenne}: Aid that girl without fail! {CYAN}: We have to help her!
{ガウ}「{ガウ}
 がんばる!
{Gau}: {Gau} hold strong! {GAU}: {GAU}...
{GAU} do his best!

And, unsurprisingly, Jun and Bannan have their two cents to throw in, too.

ジュン「{ティナ}は、
 光になって西のほうへ飛んで行った
 という。フィガロ城に行けば
 何かてがかりがあるかもしれん。
Jun: They say {Tina} turned into
 light and flew off to the west.
 There might be some leads if
 you go to Figaro Castle.
ARVIS: Heard {TERRA} turned into light and streaked away toward the west.
Make your way to Figaro Castle.
Maybe they can help you, there.
バナン「{ティナ}を
 助け出してやってくれ…
 あの子には、この世界の未来が
 かかっておる。
Bannan: Give {Tina} your help...
 On that girl rides the future
 of our world.
BANON: Go find {TERRA}!
She holds the future to our survival.

Outisde, one of the citizens proves especially supportive.

右てにみえる家には、わしの集めた宝が
おいてある。
帝国に立ち向かう、おまえたちに
すべてあげよう!
でも、1つだけカギがあかないのが
あるんじゃが…
きっと中にはいいものが…
In the house you can see to the right
are the treasures I've collected.
I'll give them all to you so you can
stand against the Empire!
But one of them has a lock that
won't open...
I'm sure something good's inside...
The house to the far right contains the treasures I've collected! Take them, before the Empire does!
Only one of them is locked. Now what do ya suppose is inside...?!

The house contains some money and uncommon equipment—a Reflect Ring, Hyper Wrist, Thief's Knife, and Thief's Bracelet—but that one chest just won't open.

Also check the shops for new equipment, including some row-ignoring weapons.



Previous Part: Reunion

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