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Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:38 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Back to Mintaka we go!
There are many questions. Who’s the Quaestor? Will we get arrested somehow? Will Guillo actually eat Milly? WHO KNOWS, ONWARDS.
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:46 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Huh, weird, some dialog switched to displaying instantly rather than progressively after I got a thing from a NPC, and fixed itself when I switched areas. Smells like a bug.
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:57 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Such high alert that apparently our description’s not part of it. Aaaaaaah videogame logic
(Fun fact: if you start looking for a precise definition of what terrorism even is, it gets messy really fast, and it often tells you more about the person using the word than anything)
Empire Soldier: “We’re currently on high alert due to a recent surge in terrorist activity.”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:58 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
SURE. MORE GAME MECHANICS. Huzzah.
Wussy Guy: “I tried and tried and eventually passed the test to become a Coliseum entrant.” Textbox: “Obtained the magna essence Coliseum Dog Tags!” Wussy Guy: “If you step into a blue flower while holding them, you can warp to the Coliseum.”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:00 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
It looks like this. We get dragged into the ready room and get some minor explaining.
Sagi standing in a blue flower, to the side of a large room. Ark: “The more matches you win, the further you advance, and the nicer the prizes become.”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:02 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
1) Look game I’m not one for age discourse but at this point I’m starting to have questions, that’s at least your third warning.
2) I think this guy’s in the wrong place.
Coliseum entrant: “A baby face like yours oughta bring the ladies here in droves! Make it happen, Sagi!” Coliseum entrant: “Err...n-now, now. Fighting isn’t the answer...”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:29 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Anyway we do not have the patience for any of that just yet, so instead we go talk to everyone in town again.
Guess Mintaka actually is not made of brass? Or at least all of it is gold-plated? Impractical to say the least.
Also gilding and plating are different booooooo
Mintaka resident: “What, you’ve never seen a gilder at work before?” Mintaka resident: “Man, how long has it been since my grandfather and I first put up all this gold plating?”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:31 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
A couple residents are talking about voting for the next Emperor, which was unexpected to say the least.
Mintaka resident: “I’m casting my vote for Lord Baelheit without a second thought.” Mintaka resident: “Who do you suppose you’ll be voting for in the elections?”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:33 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
This is more expected ‘cause it’s anti-Azhani talk again, YAY
Child: “Some guy just told me not to go to the funeral because it was too dangerous.” Child: “He looked like an Azhani. I wonder how he knew it would be dangerous.” Empire Soldier: “Pfft, how long because we get to use that machina-whatever to wipe them all off the map?”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:37 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
The island looks slightly different, and the area with the Imperial Fortress is instead called Greater Mintaka. Hm.
But there are others dots on the map to check first.
Alfard island map, focused on Greater Mintaka.
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:39 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
One is the Dark Service HQ, which allows us in because contrived/10 avoiding making trouble at such an important time for Lord Baelheit. K.
Dark Serviceman: “Now is an important juncture for Lord Baelheit.” Dark Serviceman: “We wouldn’t want to make waves within the Empire. You’re free to do as you please.”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:43 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Bits and bobs from talking to everyone there:
1) Milly is SuspiciousTM some more.
2) Giacomo is with the Dark Service.
3) Revisiting comes with Bonus Milly Snark. (Guillo does not answer)
Dark Serviceman: “Hmm, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before, too, missy...” Dark Serviceman: “They say that new kid—Giacomo, I think he’s called—is running missions all over the place.” Sagi: “Unlike Guillo here, paramachina can’t talk, and they won’t act unless given a direct order.” Milly: “Wow, is it too late to trade the dingbat in for one?”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:45 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
And FORESHADOWING
Dark Serviceman: “Next, we’re headed for Diadem’s—“ Dark Serviceman: “Promachination has reached phase two. Now our real mission as Dark Servicemen begins.” Dark Serviceman: “HQ has gotten awfully quiet, now that people are being sent all over the place on missions.”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:48 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Next dot is North Nihal Desert, which is apparently impossible to traverse without snow sold for 400G a pop. And also a minor sequence break since it makes Sagi say we’re headed to Azha, which we are NOT.
A rocky path through sand. Title card: “The Nihal Desert”. Milly: “What is with this heat?! Are we really going to cross this on foot?!” Man: “It is! People use snow made of ground-up [blue text]flame ice[end blue text] to stay cool while crossing the desert.”
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:49 PM · May 01, 2021 Permalink 
Because it’s nearly 2AM and I expect the funeral to run long, I’m going to see what happens if I instead get some water from the HQ and try to cross before going to Greater Mintaka.
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Lia @liareplaysbk · 12:00 AM · May 02, 2021 Permalink 
There’s a sandstorm blocking the way. So the dialog at the entrance isn’t adjusted, but you apparently can’t sequence break.
Next time: drama at the funeral I guess?
Traveler: “There’s a fierce sandstorm up ahead. We can’t get to Azha until it clears up.” Guillo: “There’s no way we’re getting through this storm. We’re turning back, Sagi.”