I think this part of the game may have
been inspired by Star
Trek VI.
And it's not just
because they're both the sixth sequel in their franchise. Star Trek
VI had Kirk and crew sitting down to dine with Chancellor Gorkon, the
leader of the Federation's mortal enemies the Klingons as the two
sides prepare to declare peace. This part of Final Fantasy VI has
Terra, Locke, and a few of the other heroes sitting down to a dinner
with Emperor Gestal for exactly the same reasons.
The trip from where
the airship crashed near Miranda to Vector isn't nearly as hard as it
was when I was going around the continent before, and I even managed
to beat a pair of the Fossil Fangs in the patch of desert on the way
there.
Vector itself has
been beat all to hell by the Espers, much as had been hinted at
before. Instead of the random citizens that had been there before,
the town is now full of Returners and Narshe Guards, who all can't
believe what they're seeing. All the people of Vector who could ran
the hell away when the Espers attacked the place. As the party heads
north to the palace, they even run into Arvis and Banon, the
Returners from Narshe. Arvis says that Vector was in the state we
see it in when they got there, deserted and in flames. Banon seems
just as confused as the unnamed non-playable characters.
In the actual
palace, one of the guards approaches the party as soon as they
arrive, saying that Emperor Gestal has changed his mind on the whole
idea of war and conquest and wants to discuss peace with the
Returners over dinner. The palace guard leads the party to the
throne room, where the Emperor tells the party all that again
himself, with the help of Professor Cid. He then tells the party
that the dinner is still being set up, and we've got four minutes to
talk to as many people around the palace as we can before time runs
out. There's a counter, because the actual number will be important
after the meal. For the record, I talked to 22 people, which is
impressive, as there are some who want to fight the party for various
reasons.
During the banquet,
we're given choices of things to say at various points. We're told
that Kefka's been put in prison and brought up on charges of war
crimes because of the poison he used on Doma, and Gestal wants to
know what we think should do with him. I usually say either pardon
him or let him rot, though we're also given the choice of saying
execute him. Regardless, Gestal says they'll let him stew for awhile
before making up their minds.
There's a series of
three questions we get to ask, and I think if we ask all three
there's a reward for it, because later on in the conversation, Gestal
asks us which of the three we asked first, which reminded me too late
that we get something for asking all three and reminding him of which
one was first.
There are also a
couple other things we get to say or do in the process, but I didn't
pay quite enough attention to them. At the end of the meal, Gestal
brings in General Leo and says we're supposed to go with him to a
place called Crescent Island to make peace with the Espers. We're to
leave on the ship that docks at the port in Albrook as soon as
possible.
With that taken
care of, the banquet ends and most of the party decides to stay in
Vector to help the Returners investigate the legitimacy of the
Empire's claims while Locke and Terra head to Albrook to go with
General Leo. We'll be meeting some familiar characters in the
process, and gaining some new party members as well.
On our way out, one
of the palace guards stops Terra and Locke to tell them that because
we talked to so many people in the palace before the dinner, Gestal
has ordered the troops out of Doma and South Figaro. I'm fairly
certain there would have been more had I done the questions part
right, but that's my mistake.
We can talk to the
other party members on the way out of town. Gau is in the cafe, and
he says the place smells like his parents' house. That may mean he's
from Vector. I'm learning a few things this playthrough.
But since the
others don't really say much that's interesting or important, as I
remember, I'll just go on to Albrook and pick up there next time.
See you then, folks, and DFTBA!
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