OVERVIEW
Even before the Soul Wars reached their peak, Vestum was a land for the uncouth and rejected.
It is situated on the very edge of the Badlands, and what little culture they have is so crude and foreign, the other Kingdoms deride them as being madmen.
It was borderline anarchy there, with the strongest tribe of bandits acting as the rulers until they were forcibly removed from their positions.
It was only when Sage Elizabeth arrived from Wuuheim, after the Soul Wars, that they achieved some form of solidarity.
CHARACTERS
SAGE ELIZABETH OF VESTUM (FORMERLY OF WUUHEIM)
Profile:
Elizabeth was originally from Wuuheim, a ruthless Sorcerer.
When Demonica appeared, she took to it quickly, becoming part of a duo that decimated civilian populations.
She studied her art voraciously, discovering deep secrets about its origins, and the effects it had on the Soul.
But once the Soul Wars ended and Leocadius banned Demonica, she fled to Vestum, and founded a cult with seemingly-good intentions, but sinister means.
Quest:
Elizabeth has no quest, but is a representative of Vestum, and therefore encourages the player to swear loyalty to the Vestum Kingdom and spread the demonic curse.
DIALOGUE
UPON APPROACH (IF SPIRIT IS LESS THAN 10)
/h3>
"Flee, Explorer. Your Soul is weak, and I cannot be held responsible if my friends here rip it clean from your body."
"Come back when your spirit rages, and when you hunger for answers."
UPON APPROACH (IF SPIRIT IS 10 OR HIGHER)
"Come closer, you whose Soul casts a great shadow. That is, if you are brave enough to hear the forbidden truth."
"We have much to discuss."
FIRST CONVERSATION
"Forget everything you thought you knew. In this land of silence and death, clear your mind, and quell your hunger for light."
"My name is Elizabeth, and I am a Sage of Vestum, a brave and free Kingdom in a shackled world."
"You may doubt it, but an infection resides in each and every one of us, poisoning us from the very day we are born. We are addicted to it, and clutch madly for it, until the light leaves us blind and destitute."
"That's right. I'm talking about the Soul. The Soul is a parasite, a foreign existence that forced itself into the center of our lives, long, long ago."
"And now that we cannot live without it, a foul mass of Souls they call the Phantasm is stripping it from us. Still, they deny the truth!"
SECOND CONVERSATION
"Do you disagree with me as well?"
>Yes
"Then leave. The light has already blinded you."
>No
"Good. Now then, I can share with you our true purpose here. That is, if you swear loyalty to Vestum. I will not have you revealing our cause to those who would oppose us. Do you, Explorer?"
>Yes
"Then take this. Welcome to Vestum."
>Given Evil Eye Demonica
"Demon Magic- Demonica. Forget your preconceived notions of it being evil, for you are ignorant of its true purpose."
"If you reject the Soul, and accept the influence of Demonica, you can chip away at the Soul possessing you."
"You will be cursed, trapped in the form of a Phantom. But do not despair, for the curse is the first step towards becoming a Demon."
"It is a higher existence, one free of the shackles of mortality. Travel to other worlds. Vanquish other mortals, and in the act of killing, your curse will pass to them."
"There is no shame in enjoying it. Inflicting pain on another is a wonderful experience, and if they embrace their curse, then the pain will only enhance their coming joy."
"The process is slow, and numbers daunting. But only the Accursed will weather the coming storm."
"The light was never good. And the shadow was never evil. Remember that. I wish you luck."
>No
"I do not fault you if you are not brave enough to follow this path. But I have to say... you're missing out!"
THIRD CONVERSATION
"Everywhere we go to try and spread the word, we are beset by the ignorant."
"The foolish knights of Tiolez simply cower in fear, but the damned Yuhoics do something even worse."
"They relish in breaking the curses we spread. Unforgivable! They don't even care that they're dooming mortals to a life of just that: mortality."
"Transcendence is life. Stasis is death."
FOURTH CONVERSATION
"Demons and the Soul existed together, as two halves of a whole. Or rather, predator and prey. Or both. Their natures are intertwined, but obscure. But what we do know is this."
"Demons, though owning Souls, have true power over them, and thus, over the Phantasm."
"They are linked to the shadow, though independent from it."
"Our curse... originates from them both. The implications of this, even I don't know."
"I never claimed to know everything about these Ruins. But I do know that this is the birthplace of the Demons."
"The perfect place for our rebirth."
FIFTH CONVERSATION
"Have you spoken with Evaristo? His body is my pride and joy. Of us all, he is the closest to demonkind. But he is trapped."
"For now, he is in a middle state. A state of agony. And looking at him, it pains me as well."
"But such is the fate of we mortals, who are so resistant to change that we must tear ourselves apart to accomplish anything of value."
"Evaristo's body will be the key. The gateway to our salvation."
SIXTH CONVERSATION AND ONWARDS
"Unfortunate as it is, we will never be free of the Soul. As mortals, that is our fate. To die, and to have everything taken from us."
"Not even Demons can be rid of it, since it is inextricably linked to their own existence."
"No, to escape the Soul you would need to cut yourself off from it entirely. To escape this mortal coil without being flung from it."
"To exist in such a state, one must have an unbearably strong will. An obsession, hunger, or resolve that can fill the void that the Soul would leave."
"But a soulless one would no longer be mortal. Perhaps they would be completely unrecognizable to our shortsighted gaze..."
SPECIAL DIALOGUE
GREETING
"Why not sit down, Explorer? The earth is cooled by the shadow."
INTERRUPTED MENU
"Mortals are fickle, after all."
FAREWELL
"Goodbye."
POSITIVE TENDENCY GREETING
"Take rest here, in these lands of the living and the dead. For once our journey is complete, we will belong to neither."
POSITIVE TENDENCY FAREWELL
"You'll make them understand. I know it."
NEGATIVE TENDENCY GREETING
"..."
NEGATIVE TENDENCY FAREWELL
"..."
AFTER MEETING LADY SKARUN
"Oh, you've met Skarun, have you? Hmhmhmhm..."
"I knew her, long ago. She was a different person back then."
"Perchance, did she mention me at all?"
"No? Haha, well, I suppose not."
"She'll come around eventually..."
FIRST KINGDOM REWARD
"You have cursed many. Their echoing screams of anguish are music to my ears."
"Take this, and sow misery in the guise of a bystander."
>Given the Foe's Charm
SECOND KINGDOM REWARD
"Do you seek still greater demonic power?"
"Feed Souls to Evaristo. His body is a natural crucible of demonic force. Don't worry, it doesn't pain him. Much."
>Unlocked Vestum Soul Synthesis
THIRD KINGDOM REWARD
"Your Soul pulses with the curse... such a shadow will not go unnoticed."
"But remember, if you are not the one to deal the killing blow, the curse will not be passed on."
"Use this to prevent those self-righteous crusaders from interfering."
>Given the Heretic's Charm
FINAL KINGDOM REWARD
"Ah... I see myself in you. You love it too, don't you? How Demonica so deliciously twists the Soul?"
"Bring more Souls, my dearest. Bring more Souls to me!"
"I will teach you the greatest of Wuuheim's Demonica."
>Unlock Wuuheim Soul Synthesis
VESTUM CHAMPION BONUS
"The time has come. You have offered your Soul fully to the demon arts. Embraced the shadow with the whole of your being."
"You are ready to transcend your mortal form, and become something more than human."
"Take a piece of Evaristo's flesh, and feel its demonic power. It is my greatest gift: Vestum's Demonization Stone."
>[Message Appears: Vestum's stone triggers demonic transformations.]
AFTER BECOMING A DEMON
"Ah...!"
"Magnificent! How does it feel? Do... do you hunger for souls?"
"Do not hesitate. Spread your gift. The curse. The beauty."
"Feed on the innocent and guilty alike. It matters not to one such as you."
DEMON EVARISTO OF VESTUM
Profile:
Evaristo is a man from Vestum, trapped halfway between demon and human. In contrast to the madmen around him, he is actually quite well-spoken, even if his words are a bit hindered by the pain of his slow transformation.
He is entirely devoted to Elizabeth, who gave stability to both Vestum and him. But then Elizabeth began her experiments on his Soul, transforming him into a Demon.
He remained loyal to her, even as his body began to decay.
Quest:
Evaristo has no quest, but he can perform Vestum Soul Synthesis, and gives you the Demonization Stone when you reach certain ranks in Vestum.
DIALOGUE
FIRST CONVERSATION (IF NOT A MEMBER OF VESTUM)
"...Ugh..."
"Please, leave me be."
"If you are not a friend of the lady, I would... prefer not to strain my voice..."
"..."
FIRST CONVERSATION (IF A MEMBER OF VESTUM)
"Ah... hello. A friend of Elizabeth is a friend of mine."
"I am... Evaristo, of Vestum. Are you surprised?"
"Honestly... we are not all barbarians. Our reputation is entirely unearned."
"Feed me souls... and I can share with you this curse of mine..."
"That is what you wish, is it not? To embrace the corrosion?"
SECOND CONVERSATION
"The curse... it's not so bad, really."
"It is better to endure the pain corruption brings, than to abide the transgressions of the Soul."
"My lady... she has taught me so much. She gave me a purpose, when I had none."
"At first... I foolishly resisted. But since then, we have been inseparable..."
THIRD CONVERSATION
"Before Elizabeth came... Vestum was mired in chaos."
"The Kingdom was a land of beauty... but the people cared not for it. We lusted for Souls, like the rest."
"Even after the war, we were not free of it, but she gave it direction. Purpose."
"In exile from Wuuheim, she brought the gift of Demonica, taken from those too timid to use it."
"Living in Vestum now are demons, docile and domesticated. Created by her, and the rest of us."
"But even then, I was alone... weak, without family or home. She took me in."
"She made me who I am. And I could never be more grateful."
FOURTH CONVERSATION
"It shames me... but I find myself questioning Elizabeth."
"How selfish of me... she has done so much for me. And yet I... ergh, see it fit to complain about a little pain..."
"It just... sometimes feels as she only thinks of me as a tool. Or a trophy, to vindicate herself."
"Forgive me... it seems this stone skin of mine has petrified my heart as well."
FIFTH CONVERSATION AND ONWARDS
"One day, I hope... to return to Vestum."
"The madness that so reportedly resides there... is a result of the inevitable conflict between Souls... and the demonic."
"Once this is all over... when everyone is finally free... and unique..."
"But I have a nagging feeling... I may never see the true sky again."
SPECIAL DIALOGUE
GREETING
"I hunger... for Souls! If you, er... are willing to give them, that is."
INTERRUPTED MENU
"No, uh, it's... quite alright."
FAREWELL
"Farewell, Explorer. I will remain... here."
VESTUM SOUL SYNTHESIS UNLOCKED
"Oh? Has... has Elizabeth given you permission? To feed me... greater Souls?"
"Ah... wonderful. Her generosity truly knows no bounds."
"Vestum's strongest Demonica are born from chaos... and corruption."
"Grant me great Souls... and I will bestow them upon you..."
AFTER BECOMING THE VESTUM CHAMPION
"...Oh. My flesh? I suppose it is only natural one like you would come for a stone..."
"...ERRRAGH! Gaahh... Here it is..."
>Given the Demonization Stone
"Please... above all, do not lose yourself. Carrying such a power can be intoxicating. My own lucid state... took years of gradual change."
AFTER BECOMING A DEMON
"...And there you are."
"You can still speak. Impressive."
"...Forgive me. I must confess my... envy. And my..."
"No, I must not doubt her... I must not doubt..."
"..."
"...Why not me? Why?"
