CHAPTER 8: THE TOMBSTONE

PART 1: BEFORE

1. head to the YUGUNOA CASTLE RUINS
2. follow ROU through the ruins
3. head to the altar in the forest
4. return down the path until you meet MARTINA
5. witness the events and wake up at the cottage west of YUGUNOA
6. return to YUGUNOA

 CHAPTER 8 MAPS AND PICTURES

the YUGUNOA CASTLE RUINS are just a little to the west of GROTTA. when the party enters the place, they see with their own eyes the destruction that was caused here. … 16 years ago.

then, they meet ROU. he admits that his heart skipped a beat when he and MARTINA saw TORTE's birthmark, during the tournament in GROTTA. all this time they were thinking he had died... ROU then leads the group to a tombstone. he explains that this grave is the resting place for YUGUNOA's late king and his wife…

… the queen of YUGUNOA.

… TORTE's mother.

… and ROU's daughter.

    墓 GRAVE

they both died during the events on that terrible day. but not just them. many more people lost their lives. families their loved ones…

and it was on that same day, that DELCADAR's king began to change. he started blaming the baby that the monsters where after, for everything. this is how the name “CHILD OF THE DEVIL” came into existence.

all of this ROU had witnessed. all of this ROU had survived.

ROU asks TORTE to support him with a ritual he’s about to perform. to do this, they have to visit the altar in the forest behind the castle.

still confused about the revelations from a moment ago, the party takes the path to the altar. at the top of the hill, they meet MARTINA and start the ritual.

following ROU's guidance, TORTE uses his torch and the ritual that is called the DEPARTURE OF SOULS begins.

the old man explains to his grandson that the souls of the deceased need to be put to rest. a group of glowing butterflies appears, escorting the souls to the great TREE OF LIFE.

then, ROU thanks his daughter ELENOR for saving the children… the children?

TORTE reaches in his pocket to get the letter from his birth mother that he found in TEO's box at ISHI FALLS. when he hands it to ROU, the old man sheds bitter tears.

soon after the ceremony is over, TORTE walks down the path, lost in his thoughts. he stumbles upon MARTINA who tells him more about the deep bond between YUGUNOA and DELCADAR.

both royal families used to spend a lot of time together and ELENOR would look after MARTINA all the time. her and TORTE were practically siblings, she then says.

before TORTE is able to really understand what she is telling him, DELCADAR soldiers appear - and soon after: their general GREIG. the two try to escape, but they find themselves cornered at the cliffs. after a short battle, it becomes clear that the only way out is the way down.

when MARTINA jumps in front of TORTE to protect him from GREIG, the general looks in shock at her. just as ROU usually does, he calls her PRINCESS MARTINA… and his screams accompany her and TORTE while the two fall down towards the water.

… … …

… … …

MARTINA tightly wraps her arms around the hero, whispering: "this time ... i won't let go".

蝶 BUTTERLY      死 DEATH         家族 FAMILY

廃墟 RUINS     跡 TRACE/RUINS

王国 KINGDOM     失 LOSS    残 REMAINDER

16 YEARS AGO…

…after the queen hid the children in the woods, the older one of the two, PRINCESS MARTINA OF DELCADAR, desperately tried to get TORTE to safety. but when she stumbled during the flight, she and TROTE fell down some rocks and into a river. the basket slipped out of her hands and the young prince of YUGUNOA drifted away - with MARTINA crying out for him. she survived and was later found by ROU… but never was she able to forget the boy she had lost...

TORTE wakes up in a small hut near YUGUNOA. both him and MARTINA are save. the young woman then explains everything to him:

   姫 PRINCESS

during the destruction of YUGUNOA, her father had changed. not only did he start acting suspicious, he also declared the royal family of YUGUNOA traitors. to find out the real reason for that change and to uncover the truth behind the monsters’ attack, she went into hiding - together with old man ROU. MARTINA started training with him and they both have travelled the lands ever since…

once back in shape, the duo makes it's way back to YUGUNOA. unfortunately, GREIG jumps out of the bushes.

he can't believe that MARTINA is alive. but no matter how happy it makes him to see her - he doesn't understand why she would choose the company of the DEVIL’S CHILD. GREIG demands her and TORTE to go with him to DELCADAR. MARTINA's request to look the other way - just this one time - cannot be fulfilled. luckily, MARTINA is able to push GREIG off of his horse and she and TORTE manage to escape.

the duo arrives at YUGUNOA, where the rest of the party is relieved to see them both. finally, the group should be able to continue their journey. but before they head out, ROU has more information to share. first of all, he has a hunch about what TORTE's mission as the hero is supposed to be: to destroy the powerful demon that seems to be behind the attack on YUGUNOA. that demon’s name is URNOGA. but that’s not all: ROU's investigation over the last years has lead him to another suspicion:

he thinks that somehow URNOGA himself has DELCADAR under his thumb…

ROU finally hands TORTE the sacred branch of the TREE OF LIFE. at first, the way to the tree doesn't reveal itself to the hero, but at the entrance of the ruins, another vision occurs.

a huge altar.    6 pedestals.    6 orbs.    a rainbow-road leading to the tree...

with that, the party has a clear goal at hand: 6 orbs must be gathered. and luckily, 2 of them are already in their possession. the RED ORB from KAMYU and the YELLOW ORB that ROU has in his bag. the party turns to this vast world…LOTOZETACIA. a world that needs them so desperately.

the next part of TORTE’s journey has begun…

MARTINA + ROU JOIN THE PARTY!!!          涙 TEAR  孫 GRANDCHILD