Update 20

Update 20: Petal Lake

Good morning, Emmett.

Oh, ah, no, not quite.

...Thierry? Wait, that was you singing?

Yes, ah, I've taken a few vocal lessons from Emmett. A mere passing interest.

You must be a fast learner, with how great that sounded. That, or it was more than just "a few..."

_{I suppose, in a sense...}

Sorry, what was that?

I said, should I go get Katya? She's still asleep.

I need to stop giving myself parties that don't have Vince in them.

That...is a twin-tailed, bipedal alligator, isn't it?

Indeed.

...Please promise me we will not engage those when I'm stuck in the front.

I'll try my best to ensure that.

That's not a yes.

Is it too late to request that I be swapped out?

If you wish to throw the day's schedule off, then no.

I know I'd be throwing the schedule off, but those are very literal swordfish.

Swordfish

HP: 400

STR: 30

TEC: 24

VIT: 22

AGI: 30

LUC: 24

EXP Given: 1350

Damage Vulnerabilities:

50%	100%	100%
150%	50%	100%

Disable Vulnerabilities:

100%	100%	100%	150%	100%	100%	100%
100%	100%	100%
50%	100%	100%

Wind Slash: Deals 2 instances of heavy cut damage to random party members. Fast.

Wind Slash: Deals 2 instances of 100% melee STR-based cut damage to random party members. The damage ranges from 93 to 108 on average. Has no limit on how many times one target can be hit. Has a 120% speed modifier and a base accuracy of 99%.

Swordfishes are more likely to use Wind Slash when they're at 50% HP or lower.

If the Swordfish's HP is at 50% or lower:

59% chance to use Wind Slash.
Else, Attack.

If the Swordfish's HP is at 100% to 51%:

29% chance to use Wind Slash.
Else, Attack.

Wind Slash: Deals 2 instances of cut damage to random enemies. Fast.

Wind Slash: Deals 2 instances of melee STR-based cut damage to random enemies. Has no limit on how many times one target can be hit. Has a 120% speed modifier and a base accuracy of 99% at all levels.

Drops:

Normal: Fish Scale. 40% chance. Sells for 119 en.

Spangen (+42 DEF): Made from 1 Fish Scale. Costs 11700 en.
Executor (+90 ATK): Made from 3 Fish Scales. Costs 7000 en.
Safeguard (+52 DEF): Made from 10 Fish Scales. Costs 15600 en.
Plate Mail (+44 DEF): Made from 3 Rigid Thoraxes (Dragonfly normal) and 3 Fish Scales (Swordfish normal). Costs 3820 en.

Swordfishes on their own aren't that annoying, but Swordfish in groups can be serious problems, since they'll, in all likelihood, either injure two party members or snipe one party member before any of your party actually gets to take their turn.

These aren't too much of a threat. However, they are a template for one of my least favorite enemies in the entire game if not the entire series later on.

Oof.

Imagine that, but twice, and you've got Wind Slash.

Ow!

Okay, I...get your complaints now, Emmett...

That went off before anyone in my party got a turn, much like I said it would.

Who wants fried fish?

Don't you normally cook those, not electrocute them?

Who wants fried fish?

...I'll pass.

...!

You look at the spot from whence it jumped and see the silhouette of a much larger fish. This other fish has a vibrant red color to it and is swimming leisurely in the water...

That's...quite the large fish.

Probably best if we don't fish it.

No objections here.

Still, you cannot go into the water after it, and so you simply go on your way.

There are a few spots that have text similar to this scattered throughout B14F, and they'll be important for a quest later on.

It's an irritating one. It's not hard, just kind of annoying.

Does anyone here like crab?

Not really. Seafood isn't my thing.

Oh. Never mind, then.

...There's still a crab right there, everyone.

Scissor Crab

HP: 542

STR: 35

TEC: 25

VIT: 31

AGI: 20

LUC: 24

EXP Given: 1400

Damage Vulnerabilities:

50%	50%	50%
100%	100%	150%

Disable Vulnerabilities:

100%	150%	100%	100%	50%	100%	100%
100%	100%	100%
100%	100%	100%

Charge: Doubles the damage of the user's next physical attack. Interruptable with Sonic Bombs. Slightly slow.

Charge: Doubles the damage of the user's next physical attack. Interruptable with Sonic Bombs. Has an 80% speed modifier.

Scissor Crabs always follow Charge with normal Attacks.
Scissor Crabs are less likely to use Charge when they're at 50% HP or lower.

If Charge is active, Attack.
If the Scissor Crab's HP is at 50% or lower:

49% chance to use Charge.
Else, Attack.

If the Scissor Crab's HP is at 100% to 51%:

89% chance to use Charge.
Else, Attack.

Charge: Increases the damage of the user's next physical attack. Slightly slow.

Charge: Increases the damage of the user's next physical attack. Has an 80% speed modifier at all levels.

Drops:

Normal: Carapace. 35% chance. Sells for 117 en.

Steel Gage (+18 DEF): Made from 1 Carapace. Costs 1590 en.
Body Aspis (+28 DEF, +5 HP, +10% ice resistance): Made from 2 Glimmer Stones (Hell Angler rare) and 3 Carapaces (Scissor Crab normal). Costs 2500 en.

Rare: Crab Leg. 25% chance. Sells for 153 en.

Wind Whip (+84 ATK, +1 VIT, +1 AGI): Made from 1 Crab Leg (Scissor Crab rare) and 3 Rock Corals (3rd Stratum Mine 1). Costs 6300 en.
Handcannon (+99 ATK): Made from 1 Glimmer Stone (Hell Angler rare) and 3 Crab Legs (Scissor Crab rare). Costs 8410 en.

Scissor Crabs are a very simple enemy: they either attack, or use Charge, then attack. Either way, it's gonna hurt.

Defending on a turn after Charge is used isn't a terrible idea. It's highly likely that it may oneshot a frontliner.

Oh, today's going...just great...

Judith was using Defend there, mind you.

Case in point. Sometimes even Defend can't save you. Damned toilet paper armor!

Oh, thank you for killing the crab before getting me up.

No prob!

Okay, no, seriously, what's with all the hovering fish things?

Perhaps we're actually under water... No, that's dumb.

Hell Angler

HP: 920

STR: 35

TEC: 36

VIT: 30

AGI: 22

LUC: 34

EXP Given: 3300

Damage Vulnerabilities:

100%	100%	100%
150%	50%	100%

Disable Vulnerabilities:

100%	50%	100%	100%	150%	100%	100%
100%	100%	100%
100%	100%	100%

Water Splash: Deals 3-4 instances of heavy ice damage to random party members. Somewhat slow and pretty moderately inaccurate.

Water Splash: Deals 3-4 instances of 100% ranged TEC-based ice damage to random party members. Has no limit on how many times one target can be hit. The damage ranges from 82 to 109 on average. Has an 80% speed modifier and a base accuracy of 75%.

When they're in the back row, Hell Anglers will always use Water Splash.
Hell Anglers are more likely to use Water Splash when they're at 50% HP or lower.

If the Hell Angler is in the back row, use Water Splash.
If the Hell Angler's HP is at 50% or lower:

79% chance to use Water Splash.
Else, Attack.

If the Hell Angler's HP is at 100% to 51%:

49% chance to use Water Splash.
Else, Attack.

Water Splash: Deals 3-4 instances of ice damage to random enemies. Somewhat slow and very inaccurate.

Water Splash: Deals 3-4 instances of ranged TEC-based ice damage to random enemies. Has no limit on how many times one target can be hit. Has an 80% speed modifier and a base accuracy of 65% at all levels.

Drops:

Normal: Developed Jaw. 70% chance. Sells for 203 en.

Hunter Bow (+80 ATK, +2 VIT): Made from 1 Developed Jaw. Costs 5730 en.
Ahlspiess (+93 ATK, +2 AGI): Made from 3 Developed Jaws. Costs 7680 en.

Rare: Glimmer Stone. 30% chance. Sells for 249 en.

Handcannon (+99 ATK): Made from 1 Glimmer Stone (Hell Angler rare) and 3 Crab Legs (Scissor Crab rare). Costs 8410 en.
Body Aspis (+28 DEF, +5 HP, +10% ice resistance): Made from 2 Glimmer Stones (Hell Angler rare) and 3 Carapaces (Scissor Crab normal). Costs 2500 en.

Hell Anglers like to murder your party with ice damage. The fact that it's random target also means it can potentially just kill someone even through Ice Wall, since that only activates on a given party member once per turn!

Alone these things are rough, when you run into them with certain other formations they're highly lethal. This is the "big" enemy of S3.

C-c-cold...

Poor girl.

Is it possible for me to go one day without a monster just ramming themselves into me?

Payback.

...I must say, I don't think I've ever seen flowers quite as large as this.

More importantly, I don't see how we're going to get across this water...

Oh, that's easy!

How-- Emmett please stop pushing me no this flower's not going to support all of our weights EMMETT--

...

Elowen? Hello?

I think she's in shock. Give her a second.

So, B14F's gimmick: We ride on flowers between different islands!

There...aren't really any dynamic elements to it. We just warp between positions until we're at the end.

It makes the floor a lot smaller than it actually seems. We'll be seeing more full-fledged floors a bit later on.

Aaaaahhhh...

I'm going to have strong words for Vincent about shirking his duties next time I see him.

Ow, ow, so this is what it's like in the--

Front...

I'm...not finished...

3rd Stratum random encounters are still very, very rough.

The symptoms of a lack of active mitigation are starting to show themselves. The game is just gonna get nastier from here on out.

You think it's possible to cook fish by electrifying them?

I don't think that's how electricity works.

These could make for quite the romantic ride...

If we weren't in the middle of a monster-infested Labyrinth, perhaps.

Also if we didn't have five people at once on them.

One of whom's shaking the entire time.

One of these is going to sink on us and you four are going to be sorry.

How deep is the water here, really? I guess it'd be dangerous regardless what with all the equipment and supplies... It's not the non-OSHA compliant floating platforms in the open sky in Petal Bridge, at least?

Maybe it's just because I'm kinda tired while I'm writing this part, but I'm getting EO5 6th Stratum flashbacks. Sort of.

Maybe it's the constant showing of departure points and arrival points.

By the way, that island had nothing on it.

Maybe northward will hold more pertinent things.

I kinda want to bring a fishing pole down here next time.

If you want to be pulled in by the fish, sure.

You really don't have much bulk that would prevent it...

...Oops.

Eh, we can just turn around and try--

...

How even... What?

Best not to question it.

Executor (+90 ATK) is made from 3 Fish Scales (Swordfish normal). Costs 7000 en.

Hunter Bow (+80 ATK, +2 VIT) is made from 1 Developed Jaw (Hell Angler normal). Costs 5730 en.

Plate Mail (+44 DEF) is made from 3 Rigid Thoraxes (Dragonfly normal) and 3 Fish Scales (Swordfish normal). Costs 3820 en.

Steel Gage (+18 DEF) is made from 1 Carapace (Scissor Crab normal). Costs 1590 en.

Scale Boot (+14 DEF, +10% cut resistance) is made from 1 Fish Scale (Swordfish normal). Costs 1270 en.

Scale Boot has its uses when you're dealing with Swordfishes. I don't buy any, though.

Let's see where the west end of the plus island goes.

As you look about in wonder, a shadow suddenly appears before you.

:stare:

...!

Green hair...that tapers off to red?

Perfectly albino skin, too...

As the shadow steps into the light, it is revealed to be a youthful-seeming girl. Her glare at you, however, smacks more of malice than innocence.

This forest is our sacred ground. Woe betide any who trespass!

Is that a--

...Challenge? Dammit, get back here and fight!

Seeing that you will need to go deeper into the Labyrinth to investigate this, you decide to press on.

Grr...

C-come now, Katya, please don't pick fights we can't win!

What I'd give to have that level of stealth...

JESUS GOD

Oh, god! Worst case scenario!

I get the feeling we should start carrying bug spray with us.

Is there perhaps some kind of bug spray for bats, as well?

...That alligator thing is...licking its lips.

And dancing...

This feels like it could make for an excellent childrens' song...

Creeping Deaths have a very simple AI: they will aggro on you when you enter a square area, and will chase you one step at a time while you're in that area.

I...don't remember what was on this. Oops.

It's a copper, so the slot count isn't worth noting either. Pity.

Doing down results in us arriving on another "hub" island.

What's to the right?

Pretty much just this Chop point. I didn't activate it because I didn't want to risk setting off an ambush.

B14F E7 Chop Point

Rock Coral. 40% chance. Sells for 200 en.

Cotehardie (+30 DEF): Made from 3 Bat Wings (Forest Bat normal) and 1 Rock Coral (3rd Stratum Chop 1). Costs 2230 en.
Wind Whip (+84 ATK, +1 VIT, +1 AGI): Made from 1 Crab Leg (Scissor Crab rare) and 3 Rock Corals (3rd Stratum Mine 1). Costs 6300 en.

Sea Branch. 40% chance. Sells for 220 en.

Flute (+60 TP; Troubadour only): Made from 1 Sea Branch. Costs 1500 en.
Fin Bow (+74 ATK): Made from 3 Sea Branches. Costs 4700 en.

Narcissus. 20% chance. Sells for 850 en.

Cactus Boot (+15 DEF, +15 HP, +10% ice resistance): Made from 1 Narcissus. Costs 1930 en.

Ambush Chance: 3%

To the left it is, then.

Great. Good use of our time.

Besides the FOEs and encounters, this floor is pretty bland. There's not much to talk about and the gimmick is underwhelming.

Downward ho, to another "hub" island.

The lengths we go to for the sake of a complete map.

The other way!

I'm bringing warmer clothing next time.

This particular encounter is very dangerous, even if you have a Protector. The smaller mobs will typically act first and eat up your Anti before the others shred you. Them being in the back row makes matters even worse.

LARGE MISTAKE!

RUN!

There's an Aquatic Butcher in that small puddle to our top-left.

Backtracking a-ways, let's explore the top part of the floor.

Another fish spot.

I'm not tasty please don't eat me.

Phew...

None of us would've let you get eaten by that FOE, anyway.

I'm aware of that, but still.

How long till I can beat up one of these things instead of letting them chase us around like this?

Indefinite.

Aw, dammit.

Why do those flowers immediately go backwards once we're off them?

...Magnetism?

...M-magnets don't work like that, do they?

Correct.

I kinda wonder how that crab got there.

Where does it get its food...?

...How about no.

B14F A7 Mine Point

Sea Pyroxene. 45% chance. Sells for 200 en.

Gem Staff (+59 ATK, +20 TP, +3 TEC): Made from 1 Sea Pyroxene. Costs 2900 en.

Deposit Piece. 45% chance. Sells for 220 en.

Long Spear (+77 ATK): Made from 2 Deposit Pieces. Costs 4930 en.
Great Axe (+95 ATK): Made from 1 Deposit Piece (3rd Stratum Mine 2) and 5 Bone Shards (Guardian Ant normal). Costs 7510 en.

Corundum. 10% chance. Sells for 850 en.

Blue Ring (+10 DEF, +30% ice resistance): Made from 1 Corundum. Costs 1000 en.

Ambush Chance: 10%

Ants and crabs: the worst combination of monsters I can think of.

More cases of smaller enemies in the back making your life miserable with hard-hitting frontliners. Have fun burning down those crabs with the defense buff on them!

Huh. Mini-secret area on B13F, I guess.

How many horns do we have in storage, again?

Too many.

And now I can open purple crystal doors! Yay!

I went back to town to heal up.

Brave Sword (+81 ATK, +2 AGI, +2 LUC) is made from 3 Bloodbear Claws (Redclaw normal) and 3 Bug Nets (Dragonfly rare). Costs 5750 en.

Wind Whip (+84 ATK, +1 VIT, +1 AGI) is made from 1 Crab Leg (Scissor Crab rare) and 3 Rock Corals (3rd Stratum Mine 1). Costs 6300 en.

Ahlspiess (+93 ATK, +2 AGI) is made from 3 Developed Jaws (Hell Angler normal). Costs 7680 en.

Medica III (Restores 200 HP to one party member) is made from 8 Honey Crystals (Honey Ant rare). Costs 500 en.

Medica IIIs heal 400 HP when Elowen uses them, which will function as, effectively, full heals, for a long time.

Brave Sword is an upgrade from the Queen Saber in terms of damage, but you have to decide if it's worth losing the 20TP in tradeoff.

Now then, where were we?

Weird...shortcut? Secret passage? I'm not sure.

B14F D2 Take Point

Crinoid Leaf. 45% chance. Sells for 200 en.

Stonard (Increases one party member's defense by 30% for 6 turns): Made from 1 Crinoid Leaf. Costs 400 en.

Stab Shell. 45% chance. Sells for 220 en.

Sea Charm (+30 TP, immunity to leg binds): Made from 1 Stab Shell. Costs 2500 en.

Lapis Strawberry. 10% chance. Sells for 850 en.

Amrita (Restores 50 TP to one party member): Made from 1 Lapis Strawberry. Costs 800 en.

Ambush Chance: 5%

...Okay then.

Yeah, this entire little section is kind of weird.

I forgot to mark that flower earlier. Oops.

This one too.

This happened during some backtracking.

Elowen's point went into AGI Up. I want Quick Step as her next major skill.

And I forgot to use Thierry's.

Oh, thank all of the various gods, the stairs! No more flower-riding!

This isn't an actual floor, by the way. To our immediate right, basically, is the stratum boss!

We'll be revisiting B15F much, much later, however.

Hello?

Oh, I'm sorry. I was looking at the guest sign-in records. It's only been a short while since you first walked into this inn. It's a strange feeling.

Of course I like makin' weapons an' all, but I love sellin' 'em too. When I get t'see someone usin' t'weapon, it makes me proud knowin' t'at my work might be savin' t'eir life.

That's...pretty admirable, actually.

Thank you, Rosa.

*sigh*... You know how I said I'd take a cat's help earlier?

Kinda?

Apparently one of my customers misheard me and brought me a basket of kittens...

...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I can't ask these little guys for help. I'll have to find somebody to take care of them.

Judith Thierry please can we take one of the--

No.

I'd rather not have that distract from our normal duties.

...Man.

Incidentally, there aren't any quests for us to take.

One-armed drunkard:

...Hey, have a seat.

Gladly.

...Lately, there's been a lot of guys coming in with ice injuries. I made some inquiries and found out that the monster Hell Angler is behind them. Apparently, it throws out full-party ice attacks that hit several times. If the attack is spread thin, you might survive it, but if all the hits land on one person... You get it?

All too well.

...Ugh. I'm just remembering something I was hoping to forget. You guys be careful out there. Even if you do survive, you can lose things. Like I did...

Austin the detective:

If it isn't Tenebris. I just remembered that I forgot to show my appreciation for all the help you've given me. Here, it's not much. Oh, there's no need to worry about it. I only meant that it's not much compared to my life.

Oh, thank you.

Say, do you have some time to spare? I have something I want to tell you.

I suppose. Go on.

You see... I have earned the enmity of a certain person. I may need your help in the near future. My opponent is something of a problem. He's brilliant, but takes pleasure in disrupting public order. For example... the pointless poem. A normal man might disregard this as gibberish, but I see it as pure malice. You see, by taking the first letter from every word, this ridiculous poem becomes something very different... It is an unpleasant method, mocking those who are too addicted to complex reasoning to see through this ruse. Thinking back, that was my first encounter with that fellow. I remember it well... Ah, perhaps I've talked too much. I must be going now. I'm very lucky to have become acquaintances with adventurers like you. I trust that we will meet again.

I'm sure this won't ever come up again!

Scarred protector:

Hey, Tenebris. You're veteran adventurers now, huh?

I...think so?

You've overcome a great many battles to the death, haven't you? I can tell by your equipment. We've been working hard to catch up to you, but the monsters are getting stronger... Have you met the Scissor Crab? Their Charge is meddlesome. Taking a single blow from it can be a disaster, and yet its hard shell makes it a pain to defeat. Swordfish's Gale Slash is unpredictable. It could hit anyone. Getting hit twice definitely hurts, but if people in the back line are hurt, things will be so much worse... Man, exploring the Labyrinth is never easy, is it?

Too right. Too right...

Friendly landsknecht...showed up last floor. I don't know why he's marked as new.