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Act 2: Traveling The Frontier
Alongside his new allies, the boy learns of how his journey will begin...
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Their hometown was swallowed by the fissured earth. Now, one year after that tragedy, the people who escaped Granseal have built a new kingdom, in the land of Parmecia. That boy among them. The Jewels of Light and Darkness wrapped around his neck. They were proof that the boy was a fateful child chosen by the gods.
One day, a mysterious bird appeared in the boy's town. With that young phoenix at his side, the boy headed to unfamiliar regions. To meet the many races that lived in that land... And to find the reason behind the tragedy of an year ago... What he learned in these travels was that ancient devils had been released upon the earth. The Ancient Tower was the gate sealing them, the Jewels of Light and Darkness the keys.
God Volcanon, learning that the people of earth had summoned the devils, refused to lend his power to the boy and his comrades. They had to reseal the devils with only their own power. Where will the tides of fate take this boy to...?
Event no.07¹
Aboard The Ship
-An ark in search of a new holy land
After the earthquake that ravaged Grans Island, a ship sails on, carrying the people of Granseal, in search of a new holy land. What will be their fate?
Now, everyone will work hard to build a new town!
They headed west, far west, and at last wide land could be seen. It was the continent of Parmecia. In this land, a new adventure awaited Bowie and his friends, a second stage. Following Sir Astral's instructions, people began to dismantle the ship to gather resources for building their new country. Of course Bowie and his friends were there, working hard at the rebuilding. In front of the stairs at the center is a huge plank, and Bowie should bring it to the deck above.
A worker is missing!?
After handing over the plank, a worker came rushing to Bowie! Seems another worker went missing. What happened!?
¹The event numbering seems to have skipped no.06 by mistake.
Battle no.08
Before The Cave To North Parmecia 1
-Enemies suddenly appear. Save your fellow countryman!
Awaiting Bowie's team in the mines were enemies getting in the way of the work. Rise against all them to rescue the worker!
Event no.08
New Granseal Castle
-The starting point of this second story
Forgetting all the glory of the past, the people aim to build a new country together. It is small, but to Bowie, it is his one and only homeland.
Deepening relations with the people of the continent
Sir Astral has made his proclamation! He says, "we must strengthen our relationship with people of the continent". He believes that trading with the many races inhabiting Parmecia will help develop their country. Astral entrusted Bowie and his friends with this important duty. And thus begins a real adventure with lots of comrades. Come, let's part to new lands!
Let's head out with Peter!!
The king is delighted at the sudden arrival of a guest! Bowie and his friends will accompany the phoenik Peter on his travels. They'll take him safely to his homeland, Mt. Volcanon.
Event no.09
New Granseal Town
-A hopeful rebuilt town carved amidst the forest
The town built by people's own hands, using the ship they sailed on as material. Being built by hand, it is not yet complete, but their hopes and dreams reside there!
A rare visitor came
It has been one year since they've left Grans Island. To secure their livelihood, they've built houses, made roads, and erected a castle to represent their country. For a long time people have not left the town, and many boring days have gone by, but a single visitor stirred everyone up. They gathered one after another to see the rare guest. Wanting to build relations with the continent's people, staff from the castle bring him in.
Let's try going to the town to the east!
While people had gotten used to living in a new land, there were still many dangers outside town. But as Astral had said, the town wouldn't develop unless they could get along the people of the continent. Amidst this situation, a soldier went to check how things were outside, and said the following: "There's a village east of here. But people there flee right away. Even though we want to get along with them." Why are them so avoidant? It would be good to find the truth on this matter.
Battle no.09
To Ribble Village
-Devils act in the shadows of these wild plains
Wild plains surrounded by a rough mountain range. Once travelers came and went through it frequently, but the movement died out once the devils appeared. Let's purge the wild enemies in a clean sweep!
Event no.10
Ribble Village
-The small village scared of visitors
A village with people from many different regions, attracted by the allure of ancient ruins. What is the ancient hidden treasure they seem to be looking for!?
People chasing after the mystery of the ruins!!
Many villagers of Ribble come from the town of Hassan to the south. Despite many different sorts coming due to their interest in the ancient ruins, they have all settled into a cordial and orderly life together. Among these people are two archeologists from Hassan, Paseran and Keseran, who have shed some light in the mystery of a hidden ancient treasure. Currently, the search for ancient ruins covers a wide area, extending all the way to the cave leading to North Parmecia. However, the researchers still struggle on finding a way to uncover the entrances to these ruins. According to the village chief, the villagers' ancestors came from the distant continent of Rune. Perhaps, while these people remain in Ribble for now, they'll set out for new adventures one day.
Battle no.10
From Ribble Village to the Cavern of Darkness
-Enemies await once more in the field
To the south is a running river, and to the north are majestic mountains at the center of Parmecia. Following the river's path is the holy mountain. Mt. Volcanon.
Battle no.11
From the Cavern of Darkness to Polca Village
-The only path to Mt. Volcano
The dark cave connecting to the foot of Mt. Volcanon, where devils settled with a hobgoblin as their leader. Smash the enemies down with a single light on your side!
Event no.11
Polca Village
-The village where worshippers of Volcanon have gathered
A small village surrounded by diverse nature and a steep mountain range. The people have deep faith in the great god Volcanon as their protector.
A mysterious boy arrives lost in the village
The village is worthy of being called isolated, as only a single path connects it to the plains. That single pathway was blocked as the devils took control of the cavern, but the village received help from the birdmen country, Bedoe, and managed to continue their lives without problems. But, having relied on Bedoe for too long, they forgot how to fight for themselves. At first glance, the villagers seem to be living in peace, but they actually fear every day that the devils might attack. Volcanon's anger has them shaken as well. No one know why the god is upset.
Battle no.12
Volcanon Mountain Path
-The mountain path to the shrine over the precipice
A steep mountain path that blocks people from coming to the mountain, throwing some down to the bottom. The devils' power now reaches even this place!
Event no.12
The Country of Bedoe
-The birdmen country full of strong warriors
Towering over Mt. Volcanon's summit is the fortress of the birdmen, boasting great power. As the devils continue to assault this country, what is their real objective!?
The residents are shaken by the devils' attack!
At the center of Parmecia, Bedoe is located at the peak of a tall mountain, as birdmen countries tend to be. The building is full of windows, designed that way so that soldiers can fly out all at once in times of battle. Birdmen are very skilled at battle, and were a powerful force even back at the war between gods and devils. They continue to pass on these skills even now, being capable of taking down any enemy. This time too they have won, but they had never been attacked directly in their base before, and cannot hide how shaken they are by the devils' fearsomeness. Returning to his homeland after so long, Peter saw many wary faces. Why have the devils attacked Bedoe!?
Event no.13
Volcanon Shrine
-Towering above the summit, the great shrine watches upon the world
The Creator, God Volcanon, has continued to live for thousands of years. He has given a harsh trial for the people of the land that summoned the devils.
What is the task entrusted to Bowie and his team!?
At the very top of Bedoe is the Volcanon Shrine. There lies the God Volcanon said to have lived for thousands of years. He has the form of the legendary phoenix bird, and firmly immobile, has waited for Peter to return from his travels. Hating the people of the earth, who called upon devils, his anger is currently bare for all to see. He has even said that he won't help through the catastrophe that awaits. Volcanon is putting the people's power to the test, sending them to defeat the devils with only their own power. Giving them a single hint, he went into a deep slumber. Can Bowie and his friends defeat the devils!?
Battle no.13
Polca Village
-The peaceful village becomes a battlefield
The remaining devils fight Bedoe's forces hiding behind the fearful villagers. Clear these dark clouds looming over Mt. Volcanon with true power!
Battle no.14
To The Small Shrine of the Ancients' Heirs
-The desert region where scorching sun shines
Going down the river with a raft, the team heads to the desert region at the southeast of Parmecia. In a small shrine of a people who've inherited the will of the ancients through generations, new events develop.
Event no.14
The Small Shrine of the Ancients' Heirs
-Here lives a tribe with a duty to protect treasures
A small where people who've inherited the will and secret treasures of the Ancients live. With the treasure they protect, a secret of the ancient ruins will be revealed.
Listening to the heirs of the Ancients is the key to open up the path
A small shrine at the southeast of Parmecia. It is protected by a small tribe of people who pass down the Ancients' will. Inside stand a man and his grandson from this group. It seems he has another child named Petro. He says Petro has taken a key that allows passage to Grans Island. On Grans Island there is an ancient ship called Nazca Ship, and Petro intends to use it. In this huge turning point to the story, the old man will guide the team to the entrance of the Ancient Pathway.
Event no.15
Entrance to the Ancient Pathway
-A long sealed pathway connecting to Grans Island
An ancient pathway connecting to Grans Island, where Bowie's homeland of Granseal once stood. With the help of the Ancients' heir, its doors will now open!
The goal is a small shrine to the south of Ribble!
Going up the river to the north, there's a small shrine south of Ribble that is the entrance to the pathway. It has been sealed for a long time, and not even the heir of the Ancients has entered. However, now that his grandson Petro has decided to ride the ancient Nazca Ship, he can't stand by and do nothing. He must cross the pathway at once and chase after Petro. But this story seems to not be reaching a conclusion yet.
The archeologists researching the ruins
Back at the first visit to Ribble, did you know the archeologist Paseran was meticulously investigating the Ancient Pathway? Saying things like, "there has to be a clue about the entrance to the ancient ruins here". Perhaps the item to enter the ancient ruins that the people of Ribble search so frantically for is here. This must be confirmed once entering the shrine.
Battle no.15
Hall Before The Ancient Pathway
-A room of the great Ancients, falling apart
Beyond the door was a wide room with fallen pillars and crumbling walls. The place is falling apart now, but it is said that a great civilization lived there in the past.
Event no.16
The Ancient Treasury
-Legendary treasures sleep beneath the great tree
The treasury where ancient hidden treasures sleep, sought after by the people of Ribble. A legendary sword slumbering for ages there is now at Bowie's hands.
An item obtained after the fierce battle solves the mystery
The ruins that the people of Ribble are looking for are under the centre of the village. Using a certain item, this mystery is solved. Going through the opened entrance, the walls might be crumbling and falling apart, but the place is definitely ruins once built by the Ancient people. In its depths lie a treasure chest with a legendary sword.
With that sword in hand, Bowie becomes a hero inheriting the will of the Ancients. With this sword that hides a special power, he will cut through the devils' ambitions and return peace to the world. Now he must go down the river to the place the people of Ribble come from, the harbor town of Hassan.
Battle no.16
Kraken Raft
-Kraken, the giant squid attacking people who go down the river
To reach the harbor town of Hassan, Bowie and his friends go down the river with the raft. However, before they reach town, the giant squid who has been tormenting people blocks their way.
Event no.17
Harbor Town of Hassan
-A town that once flourished as a trading harbor
A harbor town at the southwest of Parmecia. Back in the day it was a trading harbor with ships big and small passing by, but now it has fallen, unable to do commerce.
What is the Ancient's Caravan that Rohde talks about?
After the grand battle against the Kraken, the place Bowie and his friends arrived at is the harbor town of Hassan, which can no longer function as a port since the water has dried up.
As the only trading harbor in the continent, the whole town used to be full of riches. It also used to have ships coming by from all around the world, gathering plenty of information and talks. However, as news spread of ancient ruins localized in the center of the continent, more than half the population became fascinated and left to seek them. The remaining people wanted to preserve the town somehow, but couldn't keep it up for long. The great scholar Rohde is in town, and tells of a secret of the Ancient Shrine.
Battle no.17
Sand Bar
-A vast desert at the west of the continent
It's not easy to traverse the western region, with the steep mountain range and and the vast desert land. It is said that there lies a shrine hiding an ancient secret.
Battle no.18
Ancient Shrine
-What's the treasure hidden in this shrine of distant times?
The giant soldier Taros protects the shrine since ancient times, stopping anyone who draws near. Now he challenges Bowie and his team.
Event no.18
Dwarf Hole
-The diggers who came from Grans Island
Dwarves who dug a tunnel all the way from the distant land of Grans, looking for Mithril. But, something is troubling them. Let's listen.
Search for their dwarf friend who hasn't returned
Riding the ancient vehicle, Caravan, the group arrives at a hole with some dwarves. The dwarves have dug a tunnel from Grans Island, looking for Mithril ore that can make powerful weapons. However, the great earthquake at the island has blocked the tunnel. The disaster didn't end there for them, as one of their comrades has fallen ill. The dwarf who left to search for the Fairy that can heal the sickness hasn't returned, so the team must search in their place.
Event no.19
Fairy Woods
-A secret paradise where you may relax in peace
The Fairy is the key to meeting the devil Creed. To find her, Bowie and his friends arrive at a hidden village. Where is this fairy after all?
A person called Elric
In a house next to the traveler's lodge, an old woman² waits for her only son to return. She's the mother of Elric, who has been spoken about in the dwarf hole. Elric is friends with the fairy with healing powers, and went after her to save the very ill dwarf. The old lady says the western forest is a dangerous place. Maybe he ran into some complications while crossing it. Has he managed to meet the Fairy in the end? This brave boy, Elric, it's worrisome what might have happened to him...
Gather information at the traveler's lodge
The building at the center of Fairy Woods is a lodge for travelers. There's a priest here, so saving and reviving aren't problems. On the floor above, travelers tell of what they've heard around. According to rumors, the Fairy went to the Devil's Tail to meet with Creed. Of course, the reason why she did that is still a mystery.
On the top floor there's a man who came to meet Creed as well. It seems that the entrance to Creed's mansion cannot be seen by regular people. But Elric might have learned from the Fairy where that entrance is.
²The sprite for Elric's mom in the book is different from the final version, which might have influenced her description as an old woman. See the Beta Images section for details.
Battle no.19
To the Forest of the Spring
-Devils block the way to Creed's mansion
Bowie and the team chase after the fairy who went to Creed's mansion. But the path to the western forest is as dangerous as the rumors say. A trail with monsters running rampant...
Battle no.20
The Forest of the Spring
-Defeat the lawless monsters and save Elric
Elric had really been met with deadly peril. Everyone is fired up to fight the crowd of devils surrounding the swamp.
Event no.20
Cave Passageway
-A quiet underground path through the cape of Devil's Tail.
After being rescued by the group, Elric guides everyone through the passage to Creed's mansion. It's a tense journey filled with antecipation...
A lot of treasure chests lay here unknown to anyone. Search for paths the eye can't see
The cave's layout is very simple. It's easy to not get lost. Even if by rare chance someone gets lost, there are no monsters around so it's nothing to worry about. Going straight left leads to the cape of Devil's Tail. But there is also a secret path leading to valuable items. There must be an entrance to it somewhere across the main path. The walls should be inspected very carefully.
There are even more unseen turns in the secret path. The room it leads to hides a treasure chest, but many don't notice the extra path to acquire all four items. They are special items which will be very desirable later, so be extra careful.
Battle no.21
To Creed's Mansion
-More hurdles awaits before the mansion
Bowie and his team have arrived at the cape of Devil's Tail upon exiting the cave. But the monsters protecting Creed bare their fangs at unknown visitors!
Event no.20³
Creed's Mansion
-Fate awaits at the devil's mansion reached after much struggle
Finally, the team has arrived at Creed's mansion. But fate has yet another trial for them to face. Danger draws near.
Everyone gets shrunk down!
In the next room, Creed and the visiting Fairy are about to have their secret conversation. Bowie attempts to break in, avoiding the watch of the butler, Goliath. However, the moment he touches the doornob, everyone becomes very small!
Confronting the Demon King
Leaving the Floor World and descending the stairways, the group finds Creed and the Fairy in an altar. They summon the Evil Spirit, and within the flames, a vision of the Demon King appears. What the Demon King has eyes on is not Creed, but Bowie and the two jewels he carries. He says the princess is captive at the Ancient Tower. The group's fighting spirit is lit up once more.
Four allies, which one to choose?
Learning that Bowie carried an important duty, Creed spares one of the people in his collection to join the force. They're all different, but each one can be a valuable asset, so choose carefully.
³Another numbering mistake, but this time it repeats the previous number, so it actually fixes the previous one.
Battle no.22
Desktop Kingdom
-A strange battle in warped space
Giant books. Vast paper. Deep bottles of ink. This is Desktop Kingdom, where the shrunk down collection lives. A live risking match starts, with freedom on the line.
Battle no.23
Floor World
-Cornered by a giant demon rat
Using the Cotton Balloon to descend, Bowie and his friends have reached the Floor World under the desk. Now they fight to escape this micro world.
Event no.22⁴
New Granseal
-A brief rest for the wounded warriors
The Shining Force⁵ returns home, to rest from the journey so far, and to set out on yet another. This second homeland, it is warm and soothing...
The reencounter and joining with Sir Astral
Lots of faces, not seen in a long time, smile at the group. Bowie and his friends have returned to New Granseal. Bowie heads immediately to the castle, and tells the king of everything that has happened so far. Of course, that includes reporting that Princess Elis is still alive. The king worries on how the kingdom should respond to the current crisis looming over the world. Astral says they should head to Tristan in the north, to listen to the storytellers there. Everyone renews their determination to continue traveling. But the situation is quite serious. Can this group alone solve everything...?
Sir Astral joins the Shining Force here as a strong advisor.
⁴Numbering skipped no.21. So yeah, nothing was actually fixed. I already regret paying attention to these mistakes lmao
⁵Before this point, the characters are usually referred to as "Bowie-tachi", which is just "Bowie and the other people with him" in JP grammar. Because the repetition and the expression itself feel clunkier in english, I used a number of different translations throughout the text (Bowie and his friends, Bowie's team, the group, etc.) I never used "force" however, because only here does the book starts to refer to them as Shining Force, and I feel that's very deliberate to mark the turning point of the story, as only now are them in direct opposition to Zeon. The term "一行" (ikkou) also starts being used here, meaning "traveling party/group/troop", and feeling a little more formal ("Bowie-tachi" is never fully dropped though).
Perhaps it is worth mentioning that I don't recall the term "Shining Force" being used in the game itself, as the characters are usually referred to as "Granseal army" instead.
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