Amnesic Agriculture 102- Let's Play Rune Factory: Frontier

Odd Wilson · Sat Apr 08, 2023 6:02 pm

Update 59: Into A New Year

BUSH: Huh? The letter? Torte's just my pen pal, that's all.

BUSH: But I was happy to get that letter. All of them, really. I've never had this sort of thing in my life before.

BUSH: We didn't have someone like Anette back in Kardia. Nobody came by to deliver letters, or said hello at the start of every day.

BUSH: She always makes the the day brighter, no matter what day it is. That's why I had to help her when she got sick.

BUSH: Even that day when I failed to catch Gelwein, she tried to take my mind off of it talking about farm work.

Back in Autumn wrote:

ANETTE: Say... Do you, um...like m... *cough* I mean...

ANETTE: Do you like m-me-melons? Do you like melons?

BUSH: ...

BUSH: Wait... she wasn't talking about melons at all!

(*Pony's method of facepalming is left to the reader's imagination.*)

BUSH: Who am I kidding? It's not the letters I was looking forward to, it was her!

BUSH: ...Man! After all this time and I guess I still don't know anything!

BUSH: Thank you, Pony! You really do know me better than I know myself.

*And so swiftly he rides to Mist's house, knowing Anette is likely there.*

BUSH: Hey, Anette! Is Mist here?

ANETTE: Mist? I think out she's at the inn.

ANETTE: Do you need her for something? I can help you look for her.

BUSH: No, but thank you. Actually, I was, um, looking for you.

BUSH: I...

BUSH: I came to ask you out.

Music: Romance

ANETTE: Ask me out...? Like on a date?!

BUSH: Yeah. I was thinking maybe the Night of Holies?

ANETTE: The Night of Holies?!

BUSH: Is that a no...?

ANETTE: Oh, sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I was just surprised.

ANETTE: I didn't have any plans anyway, so sure.

BUSH: How does meeting up at the entrance to the forest behind the church at 9pm sound?

ANETTE: That's the 24th of winter, right? Sure...

ANETTE: See you then!

ANETTE: ...

ANETTE: (Did I say that too casually? It is a "date" date, right?)

ANETTE: (But it's THE Night of Holies, it has to be!)

ANETTE: Aaah! How am I supposed to study like this?

ANETTE: ...

ANETTE: (...Haha. At least I won't be constantly rewriting my invitation every day now...)

----------------------------------------------------

Music: To You

*And so, the night of, a few minutes before 9:00 PM...*

(You can watch the recording of it here, if you want to hear the voice acting.)

ANETTE: Oh, hey. I thought I was early. Did you wait long?

BUSH: No, I just got here a few minutes ago.

ANETTE: Oh, good. Um...

ANETTE: ...Hey, let's take a walk in the forest together. Is that...okay?

BUSH: Yeah, that sounds great.

ANETTE: (You would think a mailman would be better at delivering her own feelings, but I... never could.)

ANETTE: (Did some part of me know they weren't the one?)

ANETTE: (Or did I just not have the courage to ask?)

ANETTE: (And...I was never sure if they thought the same about me.)

ANETTE: (But that night, I found my answer.)

ANETTE: It's very quiet... It's like time stopped...

BUSH: Yeah... It feels like we're in a dream...

*And so the two stand close together under the moonlit night, watch the snow drift downwards.*

ANETTE: You know, I actually brought some food for us today. I made it...

[Today's Lunch is Bamboo Rice!]

BUSH: Really?! This looks great.

*Bush digs in, and...*

BUSH: ...!

ANETTE: How...is it? Is it okay...?

BUSH: It's delicious!

*She gives a little cheer in response.*

ANETTE: Really?! *phew* I was so worried that you wouldn't like it!

BUSH: It's the perfect meal after a hard day's work. It's almost midnight but I feel like I'm ready to clear the other half of the field!

ANETTE: Ahaha... you don't have to go that far. But thanks.

*And so the two continue watching the snow fall, until...*

ANETTE: Thanks for today. I'll always remember this special night I got to spend with you.

BUSH: Oh, no. I should be thanking you for joining me. I had a great time with you.

ANETTE: ...It's funny, I never even noticed the cold all night. H-has it been getting warmer, or is it just me?

BUSH: This night really is special, huh?

*heart beats*

BUSH: (Oh, Anette... My feelings for her are uncontrollable...)

BUSH: (If not tonight, then when?! I have to ask...!)

ANETTE: (If I want to confess, now is the time!)

ANETTE: (I'll never get another chance like this!)

ANETTE: That was so fun!

ANETTE: I, um... just wanted to... I...

ANETTE: ...I won't hold it back any longer!

ANETTE: I like you, Bush! I really, really, really-

ANETTE: Really, really...

ANETTE: What... Are you...um...

BUSH: That's right. I love you. Will you marry me?

ANETTE: What...? Me? Really? Are you sure...?

BUSH: Absolutely. You are the only one for me.

BUSH: Well... What do you say?

ANETTE: Yeah... I-I mean, yes! ...Yes, I will...

*And so they hug...*

BUSH: I'll make you the happiest woman alive. I swear it...

ANETTE: Ahaha... haha!

BUSH: ...W-Was that too much...? I'm not that good at-

ANETTE: No, no! It was perfect!

ANETTE: And I'll make you the happiest man alive. I swear it!

*And so we get one last shot of them as the view fades to white.*

Music: Wedding

*We fade back in to find to see them walking to the church's altar together, dressed in their wedding clothes.*

*The whole town (excepting Brodik) is in here as well.*

STELLA: Do you take this woman to be your wife, to love, honor, comfort her in sickness and in health...

STELLA: ...as long as you both shall live?

BUSH: Yes, I do.

*Bush looks towards Anette...*

STELLA: Do you take this man to be your husband, to love, honor, comfort him in sickness and in health...

STELLA: ...as long as you both shall live?

ANETTE: ...Yes, I do.

STELLA: You may kiss the bride.

*...After everyone else gets a word in, of course.*

TURNER: Congratulations to the both of you. I hope you'll make a happy family.

RITA: Bush, Anette, congratulations. You should come to the bar together later.

EUNICE: Bush, Anette, congratulations.

EUNICE: Anette, you look beautiful. I wish you the best.

ERIK: Congratulations on your marriage, Anette.

ANETTE: Thank you, Erik.

ANETTE: Um... About that...

ANETTE: Can I still come to your house to eat with you, Erik?

BUSH: You'll still come? Isn't that going to cause some trouble?

ANETTE: So...I can't?

ERIK: That's so like you, Anette. Fine, fine. But be sure you don't end up fighting with your husband about it.

ANETTE: Thanks!

This is worded kinda confusingly, but Bush has no issue with it. They're friends and it's routine, getting married doesn't have to change that.

Besides, Erik is the rival for Lara. For all of the like one time he's mentioned it.

KANNO: You two make a great couple. Congratulations.

CINNAMON: ...Congratulations. You make a good couple.

CANDY: Congratulations on your marriage with Anette!

CANDY: You look beautiful, Anette. I wish I could be someone's bride, too.

Give it like 10 years maybe. You might find someone by then.

LARA: Bush, Anette, congratulations.

LARA: I hope you'll build a happy family.

GANESHA: Congratulations on your marriage. Next up is a baby! I'll be waiting for a cute baby from the two of you.

MARCO: Congrats on you marrying! You'll still have those adventures even after you marry though, right?

MARCO: You have to take me with you on an adventure someday!

ROSETTA: Congratulations to the both of you. You make a great couple.

DANNY: I really like Anette...

ANETTE: Really? I couldn't tell...

DANNY: Come on...

ROSETTA: Danny, as your boss, I order you to stop ruining the moment.

MELODY: Oh, marriage can be so nice! I wish I could do it! ♪

_{the answer's not as far away as you think}

BIANCA: So you married Anette. And here I always thought you had a thing for me...

BIANCA: Oh well... Congratulations, I guess.

TABATHA: Congratulations, Bush, Anette. I wish you well.

SELPHY: It's always nice to see two people in love get married.

Must happen all the time in her romance novels, she's not particularly surprised.

Either that, or she somehow knows she was 2nd place in the vote by a single vote.

UZUKI: It surely is a joyous occasion. Anette looks beautiful in that dress.

UZUKI: A foreign wedding ceremony can be nice.

UZUKI: Someday, I too shall...

TSUBUTE: Congratulations on your marriage, Bush.

TSUBUTE: Now I am assured that milady will never be seduced by some ruffian anymore. This is truly a joyous occasion.

Despite this, he will still ask to have his arrow-mail shot at us. But that's just because that line of dialogue never changes.

KROSS: ...Congratulations.

KROSS: Take care...

NOLAN: Bush, Anette, congratulations.

Hey, Nolan! We haven't seen you in a while.

MIST: Congratulations, Anette.

MIST: Please come visit from time to time.

ANETTE: I will!

~~the turnip mafia can never be escaped~~

*And so the bride and groom face one another...*

*And so the scene ends with a kiss.*

*And one last view of the two in their wedding clothes, blushing.*

ANETTE: Oh... I'm so happy...

*As we fade back in to the crackle of the fireplace, we find the two back at their home.*

ANETTE: So now we're married. Husband and wife... It still feels so unreal.

BUSH: It's the start of our new life together. It'll be quite a ride.

ANETTE: *giggle* I'm looking forward to all of it.

ANETTE: I have lots of stuff to do, like mail delivery and studying, but...

ANETTE: I'll try...no. I'll do my best to be a good wife!

ANETTE: I mean, I'm married to this wonderful man, and my number one joy is to see you smile!

BUSH: I'll also do my best to be a husband you can be proud of.

BUSH: I love you.

And so, Bush has finally entered a new chapter of his life. Gone are the days of chasing a cackling villain and fighting monsters in ruined research facilities. Now, he's just a stay-at-home husband.

We're not ready to leave him just yet, there's still a bit more content left to show.

ANETTE: Here's your lunch today!

[Today's box lunch is Fruit Sub!]

BUSH: Thanks. It looks great.

ANETTE: I made it so it's really healthy. I want my husband to stay strong.

Every day, Anette will have a lunch for Bush, always either Bamboo Rice or a Fruit Sub. The rice is already pretty good with a 50HP 150RP plus some max HP, but the sub is 140HP and 250 RP which is pretty much half of both of our bars.

So what I'm saying is she's awesome.

ANETTE: Good morning! Let's make this a good day!

Also, her greetings are now different. Her morning greeting happens to be the same text as it was, but the voice line is changed.

Anette - "Bush's beautiful bride. Her gentle smiles heals even the worst of exhaustion."

Her profile is now also this. If we talk to her while hit with the fatigue status effect, it'll be cured. Small detail, but cute.

Music: Trampoli Family Life

And the home theme has updated too! I really like this rendition of it.

Unfortunately, she won't wear a Fire Cape like Bush's (maybe due to conflictions with the mail bag) so we give her that Fire Ring of ours for now. Gotta keep up on our matching red outfits.

Well, off we go. Spring's just around the corner and the field's a mess.

ANETTE: Oh wait... Well... You, um, forgot your goodbye kiss...

ANETTE: Goodbye... *smooch*

Aww.

This'll happen every time we leave our house in the mornings from now on, provided her LP stays near the maximum. It'll take a decent penalty if we don't talk to her on a day.

do some chop

winter absolutely plasters your field in stumps

ANETTE: Good morning! Rise and shine!

She'll even greet us like this every morning (or alternatively shake Bush awake if he's oversleeping due being up past 0:59 AM)

But, I can only presume she's leaving us a note each morning, because she's not in the house. She still has to leave early to go deliver mail each non-Holiday / stormy day.

(Other bachelorettes would just be waiting right by the bed each morning.)

So, despite her showing up for a goodbye kiss, we have to go find her at the start of her route each morning to say hello (and get our lunch). Otherwise, I can't just skip days.

This update and the following ones took way longer to record than I thought because while I may neglect the fields and the runeys, but I wasn't going to let Bush and Anette's relationship deteriorate. :hai:

Anyways, that's all for mechanical talk.

ANETTE: Say, did you know? If you write a wish on new snow and it stays there until spring, that wish will come true.

ANETTE: I wrote, "I wish I won't get attacked by monsters anymore."

BUSH: That sounds like a pretty pressing problem...

ANETTE: It is! It's a huge problem for me!

This is apparently still an issue. Maybe we should give her a bit of Pony's fur or something, that'll probably scare off most roadside monsters I imagine.

Although, it could make things worse. We don't really know anything about monster attraction, we just know how to use a brush.

I think the obvious answer is just to send Pony with her. She's gotta get exercise somehow.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Congrats on your marriage!" - Tart~

It's been quite a while...
It's Torte. I hear you got married...
Congratulations.
I wanted to attend your wedding
as well, but something else came
up... so I couldn't. Sorry.
I hope you have a wonderful life together.

-----------------------------------------------------

Ah, it's no problem, it happened kinda suddenly anyways. I'm surprised you know already, it's only been a day.

But hey, didn't you send us a letter yesterday?

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Congratulations!" - Minerva~

Hey, it's Minerva!
I heard you got married!
Congratulations!
But I was shocked that it wasn't my
Sister that you... I mean, never mind.
Be a good husband to your new
wifey, okay? Or else!

-----------------------------------------------------

You know, you don't have to write a letter like you're taking back a sentence in person. You can just erase that bit.

also "wifey"

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Year-end Festival" - Stella~

The year is almost over.
Tomorrrow is the Year-end Festival,
a day we reflect on the passing
year and prepare for the new.

-----------------------------------------------------

And so we come to final subject of today's update: the last festival of the year.

["To Brodik, Thank you for cleaning up the rocks every night. I want to do something for the sake of others, too."]

Oh, and here's that letter to Brodik I mentioned the last time.

Now we skip ahead to the day of the festival itself, Winter 30.

Music: Festival

ANETTE: I'm used to seeing the sun rise since I get up early to do deliveries.

ANETTE: But, the sunrise on the first day of the year is different. It feels solemn so I make sure I look at it each year.

Being a holiday, Anette can finally wake Bush in person for the first time since they've been married.

Wise readers may remember that the Quiz Day question on this festival noted it starts tomorrow, Spring 1st. And while the festival music is playing, today is all just comments regarding the end of the year.

Something at least happens tomorrow though.

We kill time by chopping more stumps. I've been working on clearing this since the day we proposed.

All those empty spots? Those had stumps. We have somewhere over 1000 lumber now.

We need to make a bit more money to pay for some new expenses of married life, and our duplicated wine bottle nest egg isn't enough for all of it.

That and I'll eventually need some more fodder for the animals, I'm not neglecting them either.

ROSETTA: After I see the first sunrise tomorrow, I'll just be taking it easy at home. That's how to enjoy the New Year Festival.

ROSETTA: Of course, the shop will be closed tomorrow.

CANDY: What's your goal for next year?

CANDY: I want to be better at cooking.

CANDY: Maybe I should get Tabatha to teach me...

Ah, an early apprenticeship with the Coquilles! If you go through enough training, it's a job for life, really.

MARCO: Check it out! Candy gave me a birthday present!

MARCO: I'll wear this bandana for the rest of my life!

Marco's birthday happens to be the same day as the Year-end Festival. Situations like that usually burn. but it looks like it worked out this year.

MELODY: We'll have the first sunrise tomorrow. I should remodel the bathhouse so we can see the sun from there.

MELODY: Oh, but then people could see inside it. Whoops.

At least you have the foresight to notice that before making the change.

LUTE: Thank you as always.

LUTE: I hope you'll come again in the next year, too.

You got it, mate! We still have to buy the rest of your paintings.

RITA: I hope we'll get along next year, too.

RITA: By the way, let me give you this.

RITA: This is called a New Mochi." It's a symbol of the New Year's Festival. Just crush it and pass it along.

A bit misleadingly, we don't do anything with this mochi today. We get to smash it with a hammer tomorrow.

This all mirrors part of a Japanese New Year's custom, of course.

SELPHY: Oh, ÿ 0é0°0Êÿ . Looks like a lot happened between us this year.

BUSH: Aren't you going to see the first sunrise, Selphy?

SELPHY: It's cold and I feel sleepy and it'll probably be a pain.

BUSH: (She's hopeless...)

Selphy's her same old self.

CINNAMON: See you next year.

BUSH: Cinnamon, will you be watching the first sunrise?

CINNAMON: I might as well if I'm out watching the stars.

Cinnamon's still out there, charting the stars. Alas, we don't have any other constellations to learn about.

I'll still try to catch the Whale constellation though.

BIANCA: It seems that this is the end of the year. It surely was an ordinary year.

BIANCA: I will go out to see the first sunrise because I may as well. But, it's cold so I have get some warm clothes.

This year has hardly been ordinary, but I guess you just didn't notice.

KROSS: It seems that I have survived this year, yet again...

Glad to still have you with us, man.

We might as well catch some early sleep so we can watch the sunrise with Anette.

ANETTE: Happy New Year! After all is said and done, you did so much for me last year, Bush.

ANETTE: I hope we can get along for the next year, too.

You two are married now, so yeah, I'd hope so too.

And so we leave the house and we're greeted with a familiar, nostalgic green. We don't get to hear the Spring theme again until tomorrow though.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"It's finally spring!" - Rosetta~

The cold passed and it is
slowly becoming warmer.
It is the start of another fruitful
year! Have you purchased any
spring seeds yet?
Materia has them all!

-----------------------------------------------------

We have plenty of strawberries, golden turnips, and white roses leftover, so we've got enough to grow for this season.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Happy New Year!" - Uzuki~

Happy New Years.
Let us hope this year will be
as good as the last.
In my country, it is customary
to send letters as this at the
beginning of a new year.
May this year be full of happiness!

-----------------------------------------------------

I don't really celebrate many holidays personally, and I don't think I've ever celebrated New Year's.

Still, happy to get mail as always.

KROSS: Hi. The new year has started. Let's work hard to make this a good year.

You got it, man.

He came by to visit while Bush spent the morning up to the festival opening preparing the fields.

Most people don't have a lot to say today outside of welcoming in the new year, but the square is quite different today. I like how they have different set dressing for each festival.

UZUKI: Happy New Years. In my country, the new year is the most important festival of the year.

UZUKI: We have a saying of, "The plans of the year are set on New Year's day." We then have our fortune told for the year.

UZUKI: Would you like me to tell your fortune, Bush?

BUSH: Yes, please.

UZUKI: All right then. Here I go.

UZUKI: Ha! Ha! Kieeeeeeeeee!

*And so she shakes the decorations attached to her naginata back and forth...*

UZUKI: ...There it is. Let's see...

*Failed crafting fanfare*

UZUKI: "Ill Fortune." Nothing will go as planned. You will especially have trouble with women. Beware.

Impossible! We get a second reading but it returns the same.

Eh, Bush doesn't believe in fate anyways. He's seen enough timelines to know this can be changed. He'll just have to try his hardest to not let it happen.

TURNER: Happy New Years. I hope we'll get along in the next year, too.

TURNER: By the way, there's a "Split Cake" at the square.

BUSH: Split Cake...?

TURNER: It's where you split the "New Mochi" to celebrate the new year.

TURNER: You place it on top of a stand and smash with a hammer to wish for a peaceful next year.

BUSH: Oh... That sounds interesting.

And so that's what the New Mochi is for. Might as well give it a shot, maybe it'll help counter that fortune.

You specifically just hit A on it rather than taking it out of your bag to put it on there.

BUSH: Let's see... Take a New Mochi out of the bag...

BUSH: ...and voila!

TURNER: All right, Bush. Let's see you kick some butt!

RITA: Keep at it!

*We zoom up onto the mochi from afar. It's rather large!*

We won't need more than 1 swing though.

destroyed

Rather than just sending rice everywhere at potentially harmful velocities, this just breaks it into an even 5 plates of Mochi.

Notably, you can make both kind of mochis yourself at around 30 something cooking skill.

This overall spreads them into more HP and RP restoration overall, and sells for a combined 1550g compared to the initial 1080g of a New Mochi.

This isn't an effective money making strategy though, as the New Mochi takes 2 mochi, an orange, quality cloth, thick stick, and green grass to make. I guess if you duped it, you could make 50% profit.

So instead of trying to profit off of cultural holidays, let's actually celebrate.

ANETTE: Wow, thanks! I feel so much better when I eat Mochi.

KROSS: Thank you. You don't have to worry so much.

And that's about all there is to it, really. A nice LP boost if you've been playing the game at a more reasonable pace instead of trying to pack every single day with content like me.

And so, the day celebrated, we get our farm ready. The monsters can take care of this much on their own, although we'll have to cut the fodder ourselves.

Speaking of...

BUSH: Oh, Grant? What's up, little buddy?

*assorted ant noises

BUSH: You met a really nice ant and you're off to start a colony somewhere?

BUSH: Yeah, go ahead! We'll be fine here.

BUSH: Here, take one of these with you.

BUSH: Drop by to visit sometime! Just don't scare Anette.

And so with that, we send off Grant to go pursue their own buggy life. They've worked tirelessly on the farm, they deserve it.

And so, to close out the day, we share a last mochi with the best girl, watching the sun set from up high on Whale Island.

BUSH: Exactly a year ago I was wandering down empty roads looking for Mist.

BUSH: If you told me I would find all of this instead, I don't think I would've believed you.

BUSH: But I'm happy it turned out this way.

BUSH: As long as I've got you and Anette, I can face anything.

And that's all for this time.

Next, we'll see what's changed in the first half of the new year, and investigate one last mystery.

Music: Goodnight

Odd Wilson · Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:27 pm

Update 60: Waiting for Coquille

ANETTE: Good morning! Rise and shine!

Morning, Anette!

Music: Spring

It's finally Spring 2nd once again. the day Bush arrived here. It's also Kross's birthday, so there's that.

And since it's a new year, how about a new narrator? What do you say, Anette?

ANETTE: Me? Are you sure?

MYSTERY: The viewers and readers want what they want!

ANETTE: Well, when you say it like that, how am I supposed to say no? Haha.

MYSTERY: Great, just look this way please. Don't want to confuse our viewers.

ANETTE: Like this?

MYSTERY: Perfect! Roll the film!

ANETTE: Back then, I had to leave early to go pick up the post every morning.

ANETTE: We'd meet in front of Erik's house and I'd give him his lunch and mail there.

ANETTE: I know it seems kind of strange, but it felt weird to not deliver it in person. That's just how we liked it.

ANETTE: From there, he'd go off to work on the farm and I'd finish my route.

ANETTE: That was the day he explained to me what "The Runey Situation" was.

ANETTE: The meaning changed over time, but the general idea is that the Spirits weren't able to make runes correctly.

ANETTE: It was scary back then as crops would wither away and there was nothing you could do about it.

ANETTE: It was a good thing he had so many of those Runey things kept in storage. It could've been really bad for the town.

ANETTE: He spent a lot of time working with Erik, Kanno, Candy, and that Kross guy on how to find a real fix for it.

ANETTE: I've still never met him. I just know he's a good friend and that he sends us crops each season.

KROSS: Thank you. The man that was lost on this day, whom I knew very well, would thank you, too.

(He has different lines based on what you give him, but I think this one for a neutral gift is the most intriguing.)

-----------------------------------------------------
~"The seasons have begun to change" - Lara~

The pleasant spring everyone was
waiting for is finally here.
However, it never hurts to exercise
caution. Keep yourself warm at
nigh, and taking baths may also
be a good idea.

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: Of course, the one thing that never changed was the mail.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"The Clock Tower" - Anette~

Don't you think the Clock Tower
is too big for a small town like Trampoli?
I asked Sister Stella about it,
and apparently that tower has
never even worked once.
Even Kross couldn't fix it.

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: We were still writing letters to each other back then too. It was to help work on my handwriting after all.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Amazing!" - Tart~

I did not know you cook...
I think being able to cook is a...
very attractive quality in a man.
Like chefs.
I think... I think my mom is calling
me. Sorry, I have to go now...
but I'll write again soon. Bye...

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: There was this girl back in his old town that wrote letters to him too.

ANETTE: Although, I think she stopped sending letters after that one. I wonder why?

ANETTE: There was also those strange requests from the Coquille family. They have some very specific cravings sometimes, but they always pay well.

(We still have that request from Bianca to fulfill, so we go catch a Carp, roast it, and turn it in.

You specifically need a Carp from Lake Poli, not the Pale Carp you catch elsewhere in Spring.)

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Next..." - Bianca~

I have recieved the Roasted Carp.
I guess commoner food is not
always bad. Here, take this token
of thanks. I don't need it anymore.
Next, I would like something even
more lowly. How about a PB&J.

-----------------------------------------------------

(This one's just Bread + Berry Jam. There is a reward this time, but it's just an Aquamarine of normal quality.)

ANETTE: It's not every day that a jewel falls out of a letter.

ANETTE: I had been wondering why it was so heavy.

ANETTE: What? Did you come back just to see me? Haha.

ANETTE: Even though that work and my studying kept us busy, he always found the time to stop by throughout the day.

ANETTE: That's why the weekends are the best. We spend the whole day together to make up for it.

ANETTE: Of course, he still takes me on the monthly dates even though we're married.

The Spring Date wrote:

(The Spring Date is on the 13th of Spring, which is so early I think this is genuinely the first time you could ask anyone out for it. Anette arrives 30 minutes early as usual.)

ANETTE: So, Eunice told me that the tree on the little island in the lake is blooming beautifully.

And so we paddle over...

ANETTE: Wow...so pretty... Good thing we listened to Eunice...

BUSH: Yeah. I'm glad we came.

ANETTE: Thank you for today. I had a lot of fun gazing at the beautiful flowers.

BUSH: Cherry flowers sure are beautiful. I'm glad you had a good time.

And that's about it, really. It's rather short.

Although, oddly enough, it still gives the marriage prompt. Originally it only did this if you had the bouquet on hand.

And yes, we do leave her stranded on the island as per the Summer date. Whoops.

ANETTE: How do I get back off the island without the boat?

ANETTE: Well...

ANETTE: That's a post office secret.

ANETTE: It wasn't long after that we had some more strange things happen to the town.

Tactical Fluke Incoming wrote:

Music: Pinch

BUSH: Whoa!

*Our view moves to see a huge, dark shaded Golem in our fields!*

BUSH: Oh, no! I can't wave weapons around in the field... What should I do?

Bush, you literally cut wood with weapons

it's not even near the actual crops

just hit it or tame it

*Before Bush can act, it sparks!*

*And falls apart in an explosion!*

BUSH: Huh? What was that?

The end result is our field is minorly damaged. We lose a couple crops, but that's about it.

Why would there be a Golem in our fields? Well, spontaneous monster spawning in fields is a rare but not impossible phenomenon. But that always happens on Spring 2nd when a conveniently amnesic Earthmate walks up to a farm.

...But we both know there's a more likely reason.

BRODINK!

BUSH: Brodik! Did you release monsters into my fields?!

BRODIK: What are you talking about?! Why would I...do...such a thing?

BUSH: Oh... I'm sorry I doubted you.

BRODIK: W-why...? How...can you just trust me like that...?

BUSH: But you said it wasn't you, right?

BUSH: I'll believe you. I'll believe you because you're a member of our village. You're a friend of ours.

BRODIK: A friend...? I...

And so he was rendered speechless through either Bush's obliviousness or well masked forgiveness.

Bush wins this round again.

ANETTE: I never saw much of Brodik either. I know he occasionally helped the kids with chores, but I guess he was too shy to do it in person.

ANETTE: Whenever we had lessons, Marco and Candy used to mention how he'd be laughing about something as he helped clean up the town at night.

ANETTE: What a strange guy.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Participate in my festival" - Bianca~

Tomorrow is the Sainte-Coquille
Festival, sponsored by me.
Everyone, participate.
I'll be waiting at the public square.

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: Sainte-Coquille? I don't remember any kind of festival like that before...

ANETTE: Oh, so it's new.

ANETTE: I don't think the golem incident bothered my husband too much. We had the new Sainte-Coquille festival coming up.

ANETTE: You know how he loves his festivals.

ANETTE: Oh yeah, of course I remember how it went! It's routine now, but the first one was a huge surprise!

BIANCA: Tomorrow is the Sainte-Coquille Festival.

BIANCA: The festivals of this village are so uninteresting that I made my own. You better show up.

BUSH: Sure...but Bianca, what kind of festival is the Sainte-Coquille Festival?

BIANCA: You'll find out when you come. It'll be much more exciting than the other festivals here, so you can look forward to it.

ANETTE: The announcement was really sudden. We had no idea what it was going to be.

Music: Festival

ANETTE: Say, are you going to join in the Sainte-Coquille Festival, Bush? Good luck!

ANETTE: I was going to cheer him on no matter what it was...

MARCO: Today's that Sainte-Coquille Festival where you get to eat Tabatha's cooking.

MARCO: Maybe I should join...

ANETTE: ...But we really didn't know what it was until it started.

STELLA: Bush, are you going to participate in today's Sainte-Coquille Festival?

STELLA: I will. Bianca went through a lot to plan for this festival. I have to acknowledge her hard work by giving it my all.

ANETTE: I don't know if Sister Stella even knew!

ANETTE: Anyway, this is what happened...

The Sainte-Coquille Festival wrote:

BIANCA: Are you thinking about participating in the Sainte-Coquille Festival?

BUSH: Of course.

BIANCA: Great attitude. Do you want to hear the rules?

BUSH: I'm all right.

(Let's do this. The rules are pretty simple.)

*We get a dramatic zoom-in from up high...*

BIANCA: All right. Then let's begin the Sainte-Coquille Festival!

Ready and waiting is Turner, Bush, Danny, and Erik, lined up in front of a rug with plates of food on it.

*We fade out and fade in...*

Music: Let the Games Begin!

BIANCA: Let's see... I'd like an appetizer to start.

BIANCA: Now, listen. Bring me a Curry Bread.

[60 minutes left!!]

And we're thrust into the competition. Presumably everyone else has taken their turns already, we're the only one here.

Despite the calendar saying we cook for Bianca, most of the town suggesting we get to eat Tabatha's food, and some of the congratulation dialogues suggesting an eating contest...

That's not what this is.

Instead, this is a contest of butlery/waiting on food orders. We're given 5 options and we have to identify the food by it's appearance. No names appear on the items, so we just have to know 'em. From there, you pick it up and give it to Bianca.

We do Tabatha's job for an hour and sate Bianca's highly specific unending hunger for an hour, basically.

BIANCA: I'll try it right away. *chew*

TABATHA: Miss Bianca has finished 1 plates.

Bush's pick up speed is already slow, but now it feels really slow with time pressure. Ideally, you hand it to her from the edge of her (notably large) interaction range.

BIANCA: !!

BIANCA: That's correct. Not bad.

If you get it wrong she's initially confused, realizes it's not what she asked for, and questions your eyesight.

BIANCA: Are your eyes working all right?

BIANCA: Next will be... soup!

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Cheese Fondue!

And so a new set of 5 items appear.

Fondue gotten.

Fondue begotten.

BIANCA: I'll try it right away. *slurp*

TABATHA: Miss Bianca has finished 2 plates.

BIANCA: !!

BIANCA: That's correct. Not bad.

BIANCA: Next will be... fish.

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Pond Smelt!

Smelt smelted, smelt smolted

BIANCA: I'll try it right away. *bite*

wait that's raw

raw freshwater pond fish

TABATHA: Miss Bianca has finished 3 plates.

[*Do not try this at home*]

BIANCA: !!

BIANCA: That's correct. Not bad.

well i'm not sure the disclaimer will help her from the diseases, but sure

BIANCA: Well, I just had fish... So I would like to refresh my mouth before the main dish.

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Choco Pudding!

I think you have the idea on how this works now. I'm not half bad at this, considering we haven't cooked most of the meals in the game to even know what they look like.

We don't miss a single one on this run, so let's just start running through the orders.

This is the Choco Pudding.

BIANCA: It is finally time for the main dish!

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Bamboo Rice.

...yes really. That's her main course today. We've seen enough of Anette's rice to know what this looks like immediately.

But as we pick it up...

[50 minutes left!!]

ANETTE: I'm getting hungry just watching this.

EUNICE: I wonder if Miss Bianca won't gain weight after eating so much...

not a gram

she's a food black hole

But yeah, we get these little commentaries every 10 minutes.

BIANCA: I like having something light, like vegetables, after the main dish.

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Pickles!

Ah, a palate cleanser. Good choice.

This is also a dish Bush is extremely familiar with.

BIANCA: Next is dessert, naturally. You haven't prepared it yet? How slow.

BIANCA: Bring me a Cookie!

Misleadingly, there's 2 cookies on the plate.

BIANCA: After dessert is fruit.

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Orange!

This one's so obvious I'm not even gonna screenshot it.

BIANCA: Next, hm... Ah, yes. Next I'd like something to drink.

BIANCA: Listen. Bring me a Tropic Punch!

So she asks while three glasses of vaguely yellow color get set out. Yowza, this is a hard one.

[40 Minutes left!!]

CINNAMON: ...Hang in there.

CANDY: Keep it up! You're doing great!

This is it. It looks identical to the Pineapple/Apple Juice on the right. Because there's a lot of indistinctly yellow juice.

That makes 9 servings of food in 20 minutes. Not bad.

Music: Festival- Results (de-Sainte Coquille Remix)

TABATHA: Miss, today's meal will end with this Tropic Punch as the final course.

BIANCA: Wait, Tabatha. I have just gained some appetite. I won't allow you to let this end!

TABATHA: But, Miss. The rule states...

Music: Let the Games Begin!

BIANCA: We still have some time, so I'm changing the rules!! Tabatha, bring me seconds!

Aaand we start over again. This keeps going as long as time is left on the clock. Let's just go over the time dialogues in interest of sparing you redundancy.

[30 minutes left!!]

ERIK: Okay, do it now!! Use the secret technique I taught you!

DANNY: What technique?! You never had one!

[20 minutes left!!]

TSUBUTE: It can't be... That's the legendary dish, Vegetable Ole!!

UZUKI: Old man, do you know it?

He'll say this no matter what the current dish is. Legendary Ole is funny, but I wish this happened on something really simple like an Apple or Spinach.

Did want to take a note out to show that this is Pumpkin Cream, and the nearly identical thing next to it is a Pudding. The only difference is the plate it's on.

[10 minutes left!!]

LARA: Bush, you'll need to pick up your pace!

SELPHY: Just a little more! Keep it up!!

These two say this regardless of how well you're doing.

[Time's up!!]

BIANCA: Stop what you're doing!

TABATHA: Great work, Master Bush.

At last, the time catches us. I will say that while this is a good gameplay festival, it's really exhausting compared to Quiz Day.

Music: Festival- Results (de-Sainte Coquille Remix)

BIANCA: Here are the results of this year's Sainte-Coquille Festival...

*She gives a little cheer.*

BIANCA: Erik, congratulations!

ERIK: As expected. This is a result of my daily training.

*She crosses her arms and looks away, snobbishly.*

BIANCA: 7 points? Are you kidding me? I guess I should commend you for not running away.

ERIK: *tsk* I guess i need to practice more...

owned

(for some reason he starts hoeing the ground following this)

BIANCA: Danny this time!

DANNY: Man! So close!!

BIANCA: You have ranked 3rd by acquiring 12 points. Perhaps you'll do better next time.

you were not close

BIANCA: 2nd place was Turner with 24 points. You're not as good as Tabatha, but not bad.

TURNER: Well, I guess this'll do.

BIANCA: And, finally, the winner!

*DRUMROLL*

BIANCA: Bush, congratulations! You acquired 27 points. A clear victory, indeed.

*He cheers and basks in the spotlight for a moment.*

BUSH: I won! I did it!

BIANCA: As a reward for victory, Bush will get the privilege of partaking in a premium Main Dish.

*And so the carpet is filled with 5 hearty meals.*

BUSH: This looks so good!

BIANCA: All others that lost, you get to merely look on as Bush enjoys this great dish.

DANNY: Darn it! It should be me up there!

we're standing at the same height

i'm starting to think you're just bad at estimation- it's no wonder the store went under

TABATHA: Miss... That's a bit harsh.

*Bianca gives another snooty, crossed arms pose.*

BIANCA: Fine, if you say so, Tabatha. I shall allow the losers to partake in some appetizers. Be grateful.

[A High-grade Appetizer Set]

TURNER: Haha, what an honor!

TABATHA: Also, Miss Bianca has finished 27 plates. It's a new record!

Or rather, 27 plates from us. Altogether she ate 70 plates if you combine everyone's score.

The appetite of a Sainte-Coquille is to be feared.

Our final haul is a En Papillote, Steam Pumpkin, Bamboo Rice, Egg Bowl, and...

A Pickled Turnip!? The mafia leader hates these- is this a threat?

...Or is it a sign of protection from the Sainte-Coquilles?

We'll need to consider this carefully...

ANETTE: She ate plate after plate of food like it was nothing!

ANETTE: And she didn't gain any weight!

ANETTE: I wondered if that had anything to do with how I can't grow taller, but...

ANETTE: There's no way I'm eating that much.

ANETTE: You won the Sainte-Coquille Festival? Wow...

ANETTE: I wanted to join that festival, too...

ANETTE: Maybe I should jump in next year?

ANETTE: I have competed a few times myself, but I've never been up against Bush. It's way harder than it looks.

ANETTE: Why? It's not because I don't want to, he just stopped competing officially.

ANETTE: It's to keep the competition fair.

LUTE: I really have to thank you for always buying my paintings.

LUTE: You're the only one that buys so many of them.

LUTE: If only I could make a living off of painting...

LUTE: I'll be doing just fine. I hope you'll come again.

ANETTE: Anyways, he came home with some good food and a child's bed that day.

ANETTE: We hadn't really talked about having kids yet, it was just because he was supporting his friend's business.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Well?" - Anette~

You know, I feel like my writing
speed has improved a lot lately.
What do you think?
Is my writing legible?

-----------------------------------------------------

(The options are "Your writing looks very neat" and "I cannot read your handwriting at all." This is possibly the best formatted letter we've seen all game, so there's no way we answer the second.)

ANETTE: Haha. It's nice seeing these letters again. Really goes to show how much better I've gotten since.

ANETTE: It is still a little embarassing though. I can't even read some of my own old school notes.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"*snicker* Thanks." - Anette~

It makes me happy to hear
from you that you think I've
improved. I'm actually enjoying
this a bit now, so maybe I'll start
writing to other people as well.

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: I'm surprised at how many pen pals I ended up with.

ANETTE: So much goes on across the world that I never would have heard about if it wasn't for them.

ANETTE: Oh, yeah! It's also been a real help in fixing the problem with the Runeys.

(also whoops)

(environment's dead again)

ANETTE: I have to make the deliveries every single day. If I don't, it completely screws up my body rhythm.

ANETTE: Mailmen have to get up early for deliveries. Most people aren't awake at this time, but I often see Eunice.

ANETTE: The other day, I was late and went without breakfast so she gave me some rice balls. They tasted great.

ANETTE: Hm...

ANETTE: Oh, sorry! I'm just thinking if anything else happened in that season.

ANETTE: The part about the body rhythm really is true. When my schedules changed it messed me up soooo much.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Fresh Green Festival Around the Corner!" - Stella~

Tomorrow is the Fresh Green Festival.
Let's present flowers to those we
are indebted to!

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: Foliage Festival! Yeah, that was the year it started!

ANETTE: Some of us were still calling it Fresh Green Festival then, I think. It always takes the town a while to decide on a final name.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Tomorrow" - Minerva~

Hey, how are you?
It's me, Minerva!
I'll be coming by to visit tomorrow!
So see you then!

-----------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: I still wonder how a queen finds the time to visit our little festivals. Minerva never talks about business when she's around.,

ANETTE: I mean, I guess I wouldn't want to talk business on a holiday either.

ANETTE: So I tried asking her in a letter once and she sent her reply in Elvish!

ANETTE: I'm not a spy or anything, I'm just curious what a queen does!

ANETTE: The Foliage Festival started when Eunice started giving flowers to everyone on this date.

ANETTE: That's why I'm going to give one, too. Here you go.

[You got Toy Herb!]

(best wife ever, those things are expensive, slow to grow, but oh so useful)

ANETTE: Sure, the Foliage Festival isn't much, but it's a really nice sentiment. You can't help but give a genuine smile when you get a flower.

(We have quite the flower to gift in return. We're still growing generations of roses from the ones we used to make the bouquet.)

ANETTE: Thanks! I don't often get flowers from people so I'll be sure to take care of it!

ANETTE: I always keep it alive until just before winter arrives. They don't grow past that, so we turn it into seeds and regrow more each year.

ANETTE: You could say it shows how our relationship will never wither.

ANETTE: Haha! I don't care if that sounds really cheesy, that's how it is!

ANETTE: ...But really, it's a nice festival and I'm glad we have it.

Foliage Festival Highlights wrote:

SELPHY: Thanks.

BUSH: Huh? Why?

SELPHY: Well, today's the Foliage Festival. You're going to give me a flower, aren't you? I'm just saying thanks beforehand.

alright you win with that one, have a flower

SELPHY: Wow, thanks! Maybe I can make bookmarks with this.

Let's be honest, Selphy's gonna be the weird but fun aunt for our kid no matter what we do. Hanging around the house looking for free food, eyes glued to a romance novel.

LUTE: So today is a day when people give each other flowers. Would you like one, Bush?

LUTE: I used this to practice painting. You can have it if you like.

[You got Moondrop!

LUTE: Take care of that flower, you hear?

Can do, my dude!

MELODY: Bush, you can have this. Now go concoct some strange medicine.

[You got Red Grass!]

*On talking to her again...*

MELODY: Did you make a potion from the grass I gave you? Did you?!

Melody's on her path to becoming Marian.

ERIK: Did you know, young man? Today is the day we receive flowers from girls. Did you get one already?

ERIK: Me? Never mind me! Hahaha!

As always, Erik is too hopelessly single to not interpret this as some sort of Valentine's Day.

UZUKI: I would like to give this to you, Bush.

UZUKI: This is called "Cherry Grass" and it is very similar to the "Sakura" of my country. Please accept it.

UZUKI: Every time I see the Cherry Grass, it feels like spring. I really like spring.

The Cherry Grass is the most valuable flower you get today, being worth 6,800g as one of those flowers that take too long to grow. I'm sure there's a recipe that uses it you'd be better off keeping it for than selling it though.

KROSS: Flowers... These days remind me of my friends...

KROSS: I thought we would always be together. But now they're all gone...

We have a flower for him of course.

KROSS: Is that for me? Thank you...

MINERVA: There's a flower I do want. I don't know its name though...

MINERVA: I want the flower that Sister wears in her hair. She never takes it off even during a bath.

And so here's Minerva as well. She's hanging out with the kids.

That about does it for Foliage Festival, and for Spring, really.

We've made a decent profit off of Golden Turnips, Strawberries, and White Roses, so I ready the field to transition over to mostly fodder. Gotta keep our animals fed.

ANETTE: I think that's all I've got for that spring. Was that enough?

MYSTERY: Plenty! No matter what the agency ends up saying, it was a nice change of pace.

MYSTERY: And I hope our viewers and readers agree! At least you've learned a thing or two about our town's historic festivals!

ANETTE: Thanks for having me!

MYSTERY: No, thank you!

ANETTE: Oh, I wanted to ask something.

MYSTERY: one second

MYSTERY: Join us next time for the events of Summer and Autumn!

MYSTERY: Aaaand... cut!

MYSTERY: Okay, you're good now.

ANETTE: Um... are you almost finished with... this show thing? It's been going for a while.

MYSTERY: Yep! Then I have to work out what comes next...

Odd Wilson · Wed Apr 12, 2023 7:45 pm

Update 61: Secret Agent Man

Music: Summer

Welcome back.

Bush is currently in the void now that we've exited our unprompted narrative arc.

This is because he's hitting a watermelon.

Nothing is particularly new at this year's Beach Opening, outside of Erik not being around.

Large fruit destroyed, beach day had. Time for sleep.

The child bed we bought is also in the upper bedroom now, just in front of the chair.

ANETTE: Honey...? We need to talk.

BUSH: What's the matter?

The environment is dying, sure, but we can fix it don't worry-

ANETTE: Um...I think I may be pregnant.

BUSH: What... Are you serious?! Th-that's...wonderful! We're having a kid! I'm gonna be a father!

BUSH: Thank you! This is the happiest day of my life!

ANETTE: I was so happy when I found out, too. Honey, do you want a boy or a girl?

oh

Well, that's a lot better than the environment dying. Although, I'm not sure asking if you want the baby to be a boy or a girl will change anything. Unless this is the Sims now, I guess.

We did vote on this, and the answer is...

BUSH: Either is fine.

ANETTE: I think so, too. I'm sure our child will be extremely cute. Look at the parents!

BUSH: Haha, yeah... We'll be waiting for you.

How long will we end up waiting?

I dunno, time doesn't make sense here. Each year is 4 months of 30 days.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"I wonder how it was?" - Uzuki~

About the beach yesterday...
We have no custom of wearing
bathing suits in my country, so
I felt a bit uncomfortable, but
how was it? Did I look awkward?

-----------------------------------------------------

The options on this are "I thought it was cute." and... "It was a feast for my eyes."

We pick the first one of course. Even if Bush wasn't already married, we'd pick the first because that second line is kinda ew.

Still, I feel like she's sent us this letter before.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"R-really" - ~

Cute, you say?!
This may be a letter, but it
still makes my cheeks blush...
However, I am grateful.

-----------------------------------------------------

Here's the reply.

ANETTE: I was thinking about learning to cook recently. You know how I'm not very feminine.

ANETTE: So I got Mist to teach me. Hahahahaha.

ANETTE: You should know what happened after that...

BUSH: (Is it just my imagination or common sense that tells me to fear Mist's cooking...?)

Bush could have taught you, but I guess this was meant to be something for a surprise.

~~we will have to increase our security against the turnip mafia~~

ANETTE: Mist is sooo weird. But, she's a good kid. I really like people like her. What about you, Bush?

BUSH: Huh? Well, um...

ANETTE: It's like we're buddies. Or maybe like siblings. I never had siblings so I've always wanted one.

~~she's being pulled in, we have to stop this~~

Potential turnip-related organizational issues aside, the days pass on. Until one morning...

ANETTE: Speaking of which, I saw Brodik the other day thinking long and hard about something in front of his house.

ANETTE: He looked really depressed so I asked how he was. He went inside right after that.

ANETTE: How weird...

After the golem incident, Brodik's been surprisingly absent. This is our cue to see the last part of this storyline at last.

The next day, we go to get our mail and lunch as usual. All is normal in the world.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"A Challenge!" - Brodik~

I shall be waiting at Green Ruins, B1F.

-----------------------------------------------------

Well then. Is it time to finally axe him some questions?

At some point along the way, we upgraded our barn. No particular reason, just because we could.

With Pony, off we ride to Green Ruins...

Music: Green Ruins

Our destination is none other than that strange circular platform in the center. This hasn't been used for anything else and has no monster gates or box spawns or anything on it.

We're pulled into a cutscene as we go down the stairs...

BRODIK: Glad you could make it.

BUSH: What's wrong? And what's with this letter of challenge...?

BRODIK: I... I will defeat you and chase you out of the village!

BUSH: Why? How do you benefit from chasing me out of the village?

BRODIK: I will answer nothing! Golem! I choose you!

Oh great, he's become a Pokemon Trainer now. And because of that, we're now shoved into a fight because we looked at him.

*magical fizzle*

*Bright green magic circles, crackling with electricity appear!*

*And from its center rises another black stone golem, the same kind from our fields!*

BUSH: A monster?! But that machine is...

BRODIK: Go, Golem! Beat him down!

*It winds its arm back...!*

*SMACK*

BRODIK: Aargh!

*After a flash of white, we see the golem has managed to punch Brodik backwards, up into the air, onto a higher platform.*

BUSH: Brodik?!

good pokemon you got there, bud

*Bush moves to help, but the golem blocks him with a threatening stomp!*

BUSH: W-what should I do?!

BUSH: ...?!

Bush is more worried that Brodik might be bleeding out or something than dealing wth the monster in front of him.

Music: Brodik Battle

KROSS: He's passed out. Leave him to me! You go take care of the monster!

KROSS: All right! Please take care of Brodik!

Kross is here to save the day!

...But why Kross?

*Kross picks Brodik up onto his shoulder then does a huge jump back to the entrance!*

Oh, also boss fight time.

"boss fight"

This golem is no different than the normal ones in terms of moveset. With our axe flip, Pony, and our postgame stats, it stands no chance.

In fact it barely even gets a chance to attack it gets stunlocked so bad.

Bush didn't even get hit.

From there, we fade out.

Music: St. Poli Church

*We fade back in to find Kross, Bush, and the nuns watching over Brodik in the hospital.*

BUSH: How is Brodik?

LARA: He's asleep. Fortunately, his injuries aren't too bad. He should be able to recover after resting a little.

BUSH: That's good to hear.

STELLA: What happened?

KROSS: I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

BUSH: Kross...? Why are you apologizing?

KROSS: He... Brodik is probably a special agent from the Zzyzx Empire.

LARA: The Zzyzx Empire... The one next to the Kingdom of Norad?

STELLA: What's a special agent from Zzyzx doing here?

Music: Kross' Theme

KROSS: ...A few years ago, a soldier defected from the army.

KROSS: He was an officer in the special agent unit, but he was sick of his work. Sick of deceiving and hurting...

KROSS: He drifted to a small village in the frontier lands and wanted to live in peace on a farm.

KROSS: But the Zzyzx Empire would not let him off so easily.

KROSS: They believed it would be bad if sensitive information were to be leaked so they sent someone after him.

BUSH: And that's...Brodik?

KROSS: Yes. But, he made one crucial mistake.

KROSS: He thinks that you, Bush, are that escaped soldier.

KROSS: The real one is elsewhere...

Music: Brodik's Theme

BRODIK: It can't be...!

LARA: Brodik! You'll reopen your wounds if you shout like that!

BRODIK: If the real AWOL soldier isn't him, then what are you, Bush?!

KROSS: Bush is just a civilian.

BRODIK: But the search bulletin said the man had dark hair, blue eyes, and is skilled with the sword...

KROSS: Yes. There is another person in this village that fits that description.

BRODIK: Then...

You really should have questioned how he knew all of this earlier in this conversation, man.

KROSS: Yes. Former Zzyzx Empire Special Agent, Weber...

KROSS: That is MY previous name, Brodik.

BRODIK: But... Then what have I been doing all this time...?

pretty much nothing

KROSS: If only I had told you sooner... I really must apologize to you, Bush...

BRODIK: ...

BRODIK: But that... I'm sorry... Please leave me alone for now.

And thus we are unceremoniously booted from the room, back out into the summer day.

So, yeah, Kross is actually an ex-special agent of Evil Empire. The hints are dropped regarding some unpleasant military background up to this point, and his involvement in the Brodik situation somewhat telegraphed by his frequent apologies.

We're not done with this storyline just yet.

KROSS: I see... So you are having a baby.

KROSS: It is wonderful to have something you must protect with your life.

KROSS: I hope you will work hard not only for yourself, but for your family as well.

Visiting Kross now, we get no more answers on the matter, but we do get congratulations on our kid. News travels fast!

BRODIK: ...

Brodik's out cold.

here have a get well present

The next day, a rainy Friday 18th, we head out for our mail.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"A Challenge!" - Brodik~

You are my only worthy opponent.
This time, I shall defeat you
without the help of monsters.
I shall be waiting at
Green Ruins, B1F.

-----------------------------------------------------

That's right, it's time to throw down, person to person.

Back into Green Ruins we go...

At the circular platform, we find Kross and Brodik waiting.

BUSH: Brodik...

BRODIK: I'm glad you could make it.

BUSH: Why do we have to fight? There is no reason that we should...

BRODIK: I can't move on until we finish things between us!

BRODIK: That's why...

BUSH: Brodik..

This is no longer a matter of spies and soldiers, it's just two fighters proving their skill.

KROSS: Bush, would you please grant his wish?

KROSS: There are times when people cannot turn back. For him, this is that time. Please understand..

BUSH: All right.

BRODIK: Thank you! I will fight you with everything I have! That is why you must, too...!

BUSH: Yes...!

Music: Brodik Battle

And so the duel begins!

Brodik fights using draw slashes, into brief combos, and then sheathing. Pretty much every hit he has heavy hitstun + knockback. The guy is presumably using a real sword after all, and possibly not even a Retornen one.

Notably, he'll block and counter any attack you throw at him so aggression is pointless here.

That is, if he's not backflipping away.

Or just walking at you menacingly. Given his whole thing is dodging and parrying, he plays it well.

From time to time, he'll build up a menacing aura that shows he's about to try and combo you.

He can also do a flying drill attack with his sword extended, the most anime move in his arsenal and probably the only dangerous one. It hits Bush for ~70 or so, which would be way more on less geared character.

It's decently telegraphed though, so no worries.

This man has the kind of I-frames that'd make Dark Souls blush, though. He even gets them if he lands a hit.

So, how do we hit him?

Magic fails to hurt him most of the time, by the way.

The answer is to fully dodge his combos and get a hit in on his back.

I'm sure my description has made him sound harder than he actually is though. It's just a prolonged battle, really.

Hit 'em with upside down flip swing

rip in pieces

*We fade in and out to see him flat on his back on the floor.*

BRODIK: Heh heh heh...

BRODIK: Hahaha! I lost! I admit that I completely lost!

BRODIK: But why do I feel so refreshed?!

BRODIK: I fought with all my strength. I have no regrets...

BRODIK: Hahaha!

(he's not dying, just having an existential revelation)

Music: Festival- Hotpot

BRODIK: Sorry to have caused you so much trouble till now. I'll just report to my superiors that our target wasn't here.

KROSS: Are you sure? If another person comes and finds me, it will be bad for you.

BRODIK: Heh heh heh...

BRODIK: I lived next to you all this time and didn't notice.

BRODIK: I doubt others will find it any easier.

BRODIK: Hahaha!

KROSS: ...

He had to get one last pair of laughs in.

BRODIK: See ya, Bush. I'll write to you when things settle down.

*And so he begins to slowly make his departure...*

BUSH: Brodik!

BUSH: Take care.

BRODIK: Heh heh heh...

BRODIK: You, too.

*And so the laughing rock man has exited the plot.*

KROSS: Bush, I really caused you so much trouble. I don't know how to apologize to you.

BUSH: It's nothing! I'm just glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. Besides...

BUSH: I feel like I got to know you a little better, Kross.

BUSH: Let's go back to the village.

In the end, it seems that Kross is so inconspicuous he managed to go entirely unnoticed in favor of Bush being mistaken for him. To be fair, Bush does likely have special miltary training, although how much of that remains in his skills is questionable.

And so now, he can probably live in peace and maybe one day monsters will finally be his friends.

We're not done yet though!

For the first time, we can finally go into Brodik's house.

It's extremely barebones and unexceptional.

The only notable thing to inspect is his bed, of course.

Music: Brodik's Theme

BUSH: I wonder how Brodik's doing.

BUSH: !!

BUSH: Hm? What are all these books doing under the bed? They all look the same.

BUSH: Let's see... "Golem Assembler Weekly"... ...

The man really likes his robots. I believe there's an implication that these are actual machines and not the monster ones we find in the dungeons.

Starting in the 1st winter he's around for, Golem Assembler Weekly can show up in his mail, foreshadowing the two golem incidents.

You got mail! wrote:
ANETTE: Again? It's the newest issue of "Golem Assembler Weekly." I can't believe it... It's already on issue ####.

Of which it will have a random 4 digit number, sometimes lower than the last week's as a minorly funny detail.

I don't know if Brodik ever comes back to town, but there is a few alternate dialogues for some festivals.

Beach Opening Day wrote:
BRODIK: Hmph! I hear that it's the Boat Race tomorrow. Sink or swim. SINK!

Becomes...

BRODIK: I've heard of your sailing skills. Show them to me today.

Beach Opening Day wrote:
BRODIK: Playing at the beach with girls?! You wax your legs while you're at it?

Becomes...

BRODIK: Hmph. With your abilities, breaking that watermelon should be nothing.

Here's the last bit of interesting dialogue he has to say. I can't remember if we've seen it yet or not.

RF1 Connection wrote:
BRODIK: A dragon was found at a place called Kardia not far from here.

BRODIK: I wanted to go there instead of wasting my time here...

So this does at least establish that RF1's plot probably happened, but how this game is a sequel remains confusing.

Anyways, let's see the last of this by visiting Kross.

Music: Kross' Theme

We can't get any more information on his war chronicles or the blueprints, but...

There's this conspicuous bookcase that's been here the whole game.

BUSH: Huh...? This bookcase moves...

KROSS: Bush, you shouldn't pry into people's secrets like that.

KROSS: There are times when knowing what you shouldn't brings tremendous pain.

KROSS: Do you still want to know?

BUSH: I want to know.

We get the option to say yes or no, but of course we're saying yes.

KROSS: I see... Sometimes curiosity can make a person strong.

KROSS: I guess you have the right to know.

*We fade in and out to see...*

A hidden closet!

It's filled with armor, shields, and swords!

BUSH: What is this...?

KROSS: Odd, huh? I came here to escape the constant fighting, but I've hidden these here.

KROSS: I... I'm a coward...

BUSH: No, you're not!

BUSH: All these weapons have Retornen cast on them, right?

BUSH: I've heard that Retornen is a magic created with the firm conviction not to hurt anyone.

BUSH: I don't consider someone who only has such weapons a coward.

KROSS: Bush...

KROSS: *sigh*

KROSS: You are a strange young man. You've managed to melt even my hardened heart...

KROSS: I think I finally understand why everyone in town speaks so highly of you.

KROSS: Thank you, Bush...

KROSS: I won't hide anything anymore. I'll also leave this room open at all times.

KROSS: That is a sign of the trust I have in you...

Such is the finale of Kross's storyline. I believe you only need 6 FP to see all of this (enough to trigger Brodik putting the rock in front of your door), but I got 10 anyways.

Your depressed neighbor is an ex-military, ex-espionage agent from the enemy country just looking to live a peaceful life. Now, he can just be the quiet farmer/carpenter that he's wanted to be.

All in all, a very cool side story with way more attention to it than non-bachelor/ettes usually get in these games. I have to wonder if at some point Kross was meant to have a larger role in the plot, but there's no way to know for sure.

To shed some final light on the situation, there's one last bit of interesting dialogue that puts some of what we've seen in a different light.

KROSS: He... Brodik was too kind of a person to be a soldier.

KROSS: I just hope it does not become a burden for him. Like...me...

KROSS: I know that he is not as weak as I am. I'm sure he will be fine.

If you take this in mind, one can maybe attribute Brodik's... unconventional (and ineffective) methods as him being unwilling to go any farther than that. He only fights us personally when it's a spar of skill, and...

BRODIK: It'd be easy to run you out of here by force...

BRODIK: But if I did that, it would cause trouble for the other people here so I won't do it!

Perhaps even helping clean up the rocks and weeds was rooted in some sort of kindness. On the other hand, he's kinda a massive jerk.

He is the first plainly human enemy, let alone boss in the series though.

Music: Trampoli Family Life

Well, anyways, Sechs involvement removed from plot, our war vet neighbor liberated of his past, and a final duel of skill complete... Bush needs some sleep.

But first, our new paintings!

This is "House in the Forest". It feels very weird to have a painting of the Coquille manor on our wall, so I change it.

The other we have is "Small Lake", which is of Lake Poli. How did he get this angle given there's no land to stand there? No idea, the guy is magic.

The next day we take Anette out on the Summer Date...

And we snap up a new painting and a Toy Box from Lute. The Toy Box will hold the various toys we can make for our kid once they've grown up a bit.

We can also find Anette studying in the library.

BUSH: How are you feeling?

ANETTE: Very good! The baby is kicking a lot lately, too!

BUSH: That's good. Just don't push yourself, okay?

ANETTE: Okay... Thank you, honey...

Not too long after that we get this dialogue. I believe this marks the halfway point.

Anette's still running her mail route at full speed each morning, somehow.

Also tomorrow is the Boat Race! Everything progresses as usual, Turner included, until it's time for a girl to join us. Of course, Anette is guaranteed to do so now.

ANETTE: I was so ready to win it this year, but I totally forgot to prepare...

ANETTE: Ganesha. Sister Stella. I would like to withdraw from the race this time.

GANESHA: What?! But Anette, you were this year's hopeful...

ANETTE: And...

ANETTE: ...instead, I would like to enter the race as the Bush - Anette pair!

GANESHA: Haha! I knew you were up to something!

ANETTE: Oh, man... I'm even more excited. I can't wait any longer!

As of course, she normally participates in this.

ANETTE: Let's do this!

Here's what the Cute Bathing Suit looks like on her, if anyone at all wanted to know. The prevailing theme is that they're two-piece suits instead of the single ones, and thus, show much more skin.

Cinnamon and Noire get these neat tattoos in theirs somehow, at least.

(Since I'm really covering all angles here, it's worth mentioning Anette hasn't shown up to the beach since we've discovered a child was on the way. This festival is just an exception to that.)

Anyways we drift on everyone with style and end on exactly 420 points.

ANETTE: You did it! You won! I cheered you on with all my heart so it felt like I was racing with you.

:hai:

And eventually, Selphy decides to sell me the very expensive toy book so we can set about making some toys for our kid.

In a lucky coincidence, we have the materials for quite a few of these just lying around. Notably, some do require boss materials.

The full list of stuff we set out to make is this:

Toy Duck, Ribbon, Fan, Toy Can, Toy Sword, and Teddy Fluff (a wooly plushy).

The Yo-yo takes a snake tongue to make (not fighting that again), and the Turnip and Pumpkin Lamps need Lamp Grass (takes too long) so we cut those.

The tricky matters here are the Fairy Dust needed for the Ribbon, the cockscomb for the Duck, and the minimum 60 Crafts skill needed to make the Teddy.

The Teddy also so happens to need our old Fluffy Hat as well as a Furry Belt.

The others we can make right now, even. The toy can even uses that Electrosquid tentacle we had no use for.

Anette's constant supply of lunch has given us an extremely strong supply of HP and RP for combat, which lets me slowly chip the buffed Chickogriff down with the Earth Wand.

The trick to this fight is to just bait the charging attacks, dodge, and retaliate. Don't risk anything else.

The Fairy Dust is a 10% drop off the upgraded fairies in the Tower of Glory, so we farm the ones at the bottom in a deadly, chaotic mess until we finally get one.

It's made more difficult due to the spawn of 2 Hunter Wolves with them, a combination that can quickly take down Bush even now.

But as the first day of Autumn arrives, Bush finally finishes the last toy.

worth it

ANETTE: Today is the Harvest Festival. This is the day where I pass out vegetables instead of mail to everyone.

[You got a Yam!]

It is also the Harvest Festival in not too long after that. Not a lot happens today to be honest, just that it's a town-wide thing rather than only a couple people being in on it.

KROSS: The girl at the general store is buying up vegetables. Even the ones I needed to eat are gone.

Capitalism strikes again!

please don't starve

KROSS: Is this a vegetable you grew, Bush?

KROSS: This is a nice vegetable. I can feel your kindness emanating from it, Bush.

KROSS: Please don't ever forget that kindness.

You got it man.

ROSETTA: Today is the Harvest Festival. We express thanks to the the earth and we give vegetables to the people around us.

ROSETTA: Here you go.

[You got Yam!]

We interrogate Rosetta in regards of the mass vegetable purchasing but obtain no information.

Curses.

A few days later we get more mail.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"How are you doing?" - Brodik~

Hey, it's me. How have you been?
I reported that the target was not
in Trampoli, so I've been sent to a
different region to search. It's
harder to pretend than to really
search, it seems.
Oh, and I'm retraining with the sword.
It's as though my humility and
willingness to learn was awakened
by losing to you. I'll definitely become
stronger and pay back the debt I
owe you. Later!

-----------------------------------------------------

Brodik's really turned over a new leaf.

I don't think we hear any more from him after this point, but we'll see.

I would like to note that in general letters have really fallen off in the rate they arrive. I'm not cutting any out but the usual "season change soon, buy more seeds" and Melody's advertisements.

Life goes on in Trampoli.

But, on the night of the 24th, we go to sleep, awaiting the Coming Of Age festival tomorrow, when...

Music: Trampoli Family Life

*We fade into Anette holding a baby!*

ANETTE: Honey, we have a child!

BUSH: That's wonderful! Just great!

ANETTE: Look. She looks just like you.

HEALTHY GIRL: Dada. Aboobooba.

HEALTHY GIRL: (Impossible. I do not look like that.)

BUSH: Wow...so cute.

ANETTE: Honey, have you decided on a name?

Conveniently, she does kinda look like both of them to a degree if you consider the eyes being brighter.

And so it's time to name our kid...

Next time!

HEALTHY GIRL: Agooga. *gurgle*

HEALTHY GIRL: (Unhand me, strange creature!)

ANETTE: Aww...!

HEALTHY GIRL: (Were it so that my ability to articulate myself was not so limited.)

HEALTHY GIRL: Agababa...googa.

HEALTHY GIRL: (I must concede, this is not entirely disagreeable however...)

Syrelian · Fri Apr 14, 2023 5:14 pm

Glad we sorted out Brodik, still never got an answer as to why nobody else notices Kross though, I guess he just has a weak presence

Also for "Peak Typos" hour, there was a letter where it was signed Tart, but said Torte in the body

The Iris situation is just kinda bleh... like just deleting a character like that is kinda lame, I was hoping for a realization that they didn't need to give up their friendship with each other or smth, but also you don't even get a unique design out of the whole deal, like laaaammmeee

I missed the wife vote but Anette is a good wifey choice with a top tier hat

Odd Wilson · Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:45 pm

Update 62: The Juniper Bush

Music: Trampoli Family Life

Her name shall be Juniper!

(decided by the voices in Bush's head, of course)

...Or at least, Junipe for now. I'll fix that in moment.

ANETTE: Juniper... What a nice name. Welcome to this world, Juniper.

JUNIPER: *hick* Bababa.

JUNIPER: (Fah! That is not my true moniker. My rightful title is...)

JUNIPER: Gagagoo.

JUNIPER: (Um... I forgot.)

ANETTE: Looks like Juniper likes the name, too.

ANETTE: It's so strange to think we used to be complete strangers, but now we're married, with a child...

ANETTE: We're building a family, one by one...

BUSH: Yeah. Well, I'm glad that now I have two people to love with all my heart.

ANETTE: Me, too... We'll be a happy family.

Oh, hello, credits.

These just play again for some reason.

And we are unceremoniously dropped back where we were before they played.

"Juniper - The result of Bush and Anette's love. Eat plenty, sleep plenty, and grow!!"

Juniper now has her own entry in our log, where we can watch her rotate in space endlessly.

Today also happens to be Coming of Age festival, but her birthday now overrides this on our calendar.

(Do note that Juniper was technically born on the 24th as their birth is roughly 60 days after obtaining the child bed, so I save edited this too.)

JUNIPER: Waaaaaaah!

JUNIPER: (Your face is funny, strange creature, it perturbs me.)

We can also talk to Juniper, but she just makes various baby noises at us. They are voice acted though, so that's something.

She won't gain any FP or be capable of recieving any gifts for a while, so we have to figure out something else to do for her birthday.

And so, we shall look at a last bit of new content available with Coming of Age day. Last year, everyone tried to cheat or got lost.

Now that we have our own supply of Golden Turnips, however...

Of course we found this turnip in under 5 minutes, why do you ask?

Proceedings progress as normal...

STELLA: And in 1st place... Bush! A new champion!

BUSH: All right! I won!

(a reminder that we ruined the festival last year to get the turnip seeds in the first place)

Looks like we're getting out of this one freely. Take that, other cheaters.

STELLA: Bush... I have something to ask you. Do you have time?

*Bush reacts in shock!*

STELLA: This Golden Turnip isn't the one I hid, is it? It's missing my mark, so I know.

STELLA: You cheated, so I'll give you a special prize, Bush.

Hey, I resent that! How is Bush a cheater if everyone else cheats?

(ignore my statement saying "other cheaters" 5 seconds ago)

[You got a [Toy Sword] as your prize!

STELLA: How is it? It's perfect for the immature Bush, right?

Laugh all at us all you want, Bush did this for his daughter.

Also, this is an nice way to get a Toy Sword if you can't make one yourself.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

MYSTERY: Holy St. Poli, that's where the other sword is from? You only told me you won it.

BUSH: Um... yeah. I think that might've been the final straw too, because it got changed after that.

MYSTERY: Freakin' awesome.

JUNIPER: Can't believe a corrupt establishment was taken down on my birthday. You're cool, Dad.

MYSTERY: Whoops! I should get back in character!

------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Surf Day" - Stella~

Tomorrow is Sea Surf Day, the day
Spirits prepare for hibernation and
Whale Island eclipses the sun.
We must thank the sun and the
Spirits for their providence.
Let's a wish for another year of
prosperity!

-----------------------------------------------------

We jump forward a week to our final unique festival.

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Recommendations for Tomorrow" - Rosetta~

Hot Milk is perfect for Sea Surf Day.
Drink up and warm yourself
as winter rolls in!

-----------------------------------------------------

As this letter suggests, pretty much all you do is go around and gift Hot Milk.

But before we do that...

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Congratulations yet again!" - Minerva~

Hey, it's Minerva!
I heard you had a kid!
I can't really picture you as a dad...
Anyways, I be sure to come by
to see your kid when I can. ♪

-----------------------------------------------------

Minerva underestimates Bush's ability to be a stay-at-home dad. Either that or she was voting for the Kross or Lute options.

And finally...

-----------------------------------------------------
~"Congrats on your baby!" - Tart~

Hello, it's Torte. Long time...
I heard that you had child...
I am a bit busy... right now...
but I hope to one day be able to
meet your child in person.

-----------------------------------------------------

And so we get a final letter from Tart. I hope you get that chance to visit someday, too.

This is the final unique letter we'll recieve in the LP. There's one or two request letters left in the game (Bianca and Ganesha) we don't end up seeing, but from here on we only get the usual advertisements and notices for our playthrough.

End of an era.

-------------------------------------

BUSH: I got message from the Norad capital a few weeks back that says I can finally disclose that Tart was a cover being used by an agent from the capital.

MYSTERY: Wait, really?! I knew it was something like that! Only a special agent would have a trenchcoat that cool!

BUSH: She was there reporting information on the dragon crisis, and kept in contact with me to retrieve information on other "matters of interest".

MYSTERY: So she was a spy even when you were in Kardia?

BUSH: Yep. She was posing as the innkeeper's daughter from a separate marriage. Apparently she's older than me, somehow.

MYSTERY: ...Okay, this is getting too farfetched now. Are you sure any of this is true?

BUSH: I have no idea, this is just what I was told I could say.

MYSTERY: Oh, well, in it goes anyways!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wild speculation on the lives of characters not appearing in this game, aside, Bush sets to making some Hot Milk for the day. We don't have a lot to spare, but we'll make do.

ANETTE: Thanks! It's been getting cold recently, so Hot Milk tastes great during this time.

KROSS: I will be having a toast with "Hot Milk" for the sake of the Spirits, too, today.

KROSS: Heh...

KROSS: Is that for me? Thank you.

LUTE: Thanks. Is this a festival where you pass out Hot Milk?

LUTE: I already got it from Tabatha earlier. This is a day to remember.

SELPHY: Wow, thanks! Drinking Hot Milk while reading is actually pretty nice.

Not a lot particularly interesting gets said today, unfortunately, but it is nice to go around and hand out gifts.

The next day after the first snowfall, we hit up Lute for another new painting, "Winter City".

LUTE: Thanks again.

LUTE: I drew this hoping that you'd feel even a little bit more at peace, Bush.

LUTE: Please take care of it.

If it was possible for Bush to be any more at peace than he already is, he's there now.

Today is the best festival, (the bestival, if you will): Quiz Day.

KANNO: The former champion aims for glory once more!

KANNO: The newlywed!

KANNO: The light and hope of Trampoli, Bush!

BUSH: I'm ready.

KANNO: I have high hopes for you.

kanno it's been almost a year, we're hardly newlyweds

ANETTE: Good luck, honey!

JUNIPER: Dada! Abububa!

JUNIPER: (Go! Prove to me that you are my intellectual peer!)

CANDY: What a cute cheer.

As we're now married, the family shows up to cheer us on.

The plan was to completely ruin the festival by making everyone get zero points, but it impressively difficult to achieve as you barely have the time to kick the correct answers out of the square. Add Mist randomly pushing around the contestants as she changes answers, and it makes it extremely hard to do.

The reason I wanted to is this dialogue:

disaster wrote:
KANNO: What in the world?! Everyone has 0 points!

KANNO: In that case, there won't be any winners this year!

KANNO: For the dumbest people in all of Trampoli, we have a special gift for you. Int Boosters, dietary supplements!

KANNO: Eat lots of fish to get smarter, and challenge again next year.

There's only two highlights of this year's festival. The first is that Turner is so drunk he gets the question asking who's the town's innkeeper (him) incorrect.

The second is that Super Gramps time is extremely rigged this year.

KANNO: ...everyone except Bush will gain 10 points! It's anyone's game now!

BUSH: Wait, what?! Are you telling me the game until now is meaningless?

CANDY: Um... If you don't listen to Grandpa, you'll get DQ'ed.

JUNIPER: Ababa! Agooga!

JUNIPER: (Injustice! Down with the system!)

CANDY: Um... Hello. General Store "Materia" welcomes you... Huh? This isn't a plug?

The mystery voice this year is Rosetta, who mistook this for an advertisement opportunity.

KANNO: It seems the champion has kept the dignity of the title. With 8, Bush is the winner!

With Mist foiling our attempts to joke around, we have to settle for just winning the contest.

Oh well

We return home and take a look at "Winter City". It's a shot of the Clocktower and the Archives covered in snow, also from an improbable angle.

I think Lute might've climbed up a tree to paint this.

We put a strawberry in the Hotpot this year, but it turns out badly.

At least we didn't explode this time.

---------------------------------------------------------

MYSTERY: You never spontaneously combusted at the Hotpot Festival. We've been over this.

BUSH: That's what you and everyone else thinks, at least. I know what happened. *shudder*

MYSTERY: Well, what interesting thing happened next?

BUSH: You learned how to crawl around on your own overnight.

MYSTERY: Daaad! Stay in character!

----------------------------------------------------------

ANETTE: Look! Juniper can crawl around now!

JUNIPER: Papa!

ANETTE: Juniper is adorable. Maybe because it's our kid? Haha... She's growing up so fast. It's really amazing.

ANETTE: Raising a kid is tough, but every day is filled with surprises

JUNIPER: Ababa! Gagagooga!

JUNIPER: (Your paltry cage can contain me no longer! I am free!)

And so, a month after she was born, she's out crawling around. She's not up here, so she found her way downstairs somehow.

If you're worried about her lack of hat, don't worry, she'll get a new one soon. Although, it doesn't rock as much as her initial hat.

She'll spend a lot of time sitting right here on the first floor, in fact.

JUNIPER: Papa!

JUNIPER: My suplicashion is for brekkist!

BUSH: ...What?

JUNIPER: Provide vicshuls!

BUSH: ...Um.

JUNIPER: Food!

BUSH: Oh, right. Got it.

---------------------------------------------------

MYSTERY: I stopped using proper language just because it got annoying that nobody could understand me.

MYSTERY: Formality's boring and overrated anyways.

BUSH: ...Sometimes I worry I read too many books.

MYSTERY: Nonsense! Knowledge is the future! Literature is the greatest food!

BUSH: I also sometimes worry I let Selphy around you too often.

MYSTERY: Aunt Selphy is great, what are you on about?

MYSTERY: Anyways, I was soooo pretentious when I was little.

BUSH: You're still little. You're 5 years old.

-----------------------------------------------------

Outiside of the present creative liberties, Juniper is capable of only saying "Papa" or her usual babbling.

It's still somehow too early to give her the stuffed toys.

"Juniper- She's starting to crawl! It's so cute how she works so hard to crawl this way."

She gets an updated entry, and can now even build FP.

The 24th roll back around, and it's been a whole year since Bush got married.

With this, something special does happen!

Music: Romance

ANETTE: Honey... Let's go on a date.

BUSH: Sure!

ANETTE: Really? Then let's meet up by the bridge over the lake at 5pm.

You do have the option to say you can't do it today, but I don't imagine that ends well.

While we wait for the date, I show off one last thing I missed in last year's winter. The lake is frozen over and you can walk on it, but there remains a hole cut in the ice you can fish in.

All the fish from it come out as level 10 regardless of how good you are. The only fish available are Pond Smelt, Taimen, and rarely Carp (or at least that I ended up catching). I guess I didn't need to wait until Spring for that request after all.

Anette arrives about 50 minutes early.

Music: To You

*Talking to her immediately starts the cutscene.*

*Bush and Anette approach the Lake Poli bridge...*

ANETTE: Going on a date like this reminds me of before we got married...

BUSH: Yeah...

*They walk on...*

*We get various views of them walking across. They stop to take in the view from the center of the bridge.*

ANETTE: Look... What a beautiful view...

BUSH: Wow, you're right.

*Following that, we get a view of the snowcapped mountains, dimly lit by the sunset under cover of dark clouds..*

BUSH: I'm so happy I was able to meet you here in Trampoli.

BUSH: I've looked forward to every day since I married you.

ANETTE: Me, too...

BUSH: Shall we head home?

ANETTE: You go on ahead. I want to stay here a bit longer.

Now, Bush has proved dense and oblivious over the course of our time here, but even he can read the room.

I've had a second wristwatch prepared for a while, and here's the best time for it.

ANETTE: What's...this...?

BUSH: It's your anniversary present. Thank you for putting up with me until now.

ANETTE: ...!! Oh, honey... Thank you...

ANETTE: I'm so happy...

*From this angle, we can see she's already wearing it under her sleeve.*

ANETTE: I...I have a favor to ask you.

ANETTE: Could you...um... come a little closer?

*And so they share a romantic kiss to close out the scene.*

ANETTE: ...

She's left speechless.

Only thing left to do is to actually go home.

Well, let's see how Juniper is doing-

MIST

MIST: Hello, Bush.

BUSH: ...!

MIST: I was just watching after your little chick since you were out having a secret meeting.

MIST: She's adorable. She looks just like you...

BUSH: Um... thank you.

JUNIPER: Papa! Hungry!

JUNIPER: I request turnip!

MIST: I might've taught her to say that. I hope you don't mind.

BUSH: Really...

Even though we're married, Mist will just show up in our house on rainy days as usual, conveniently right next to where Juniper sits.

Not long after our anniversary date is the 3rd year, of course.

This also means we can talk to Lute again to get a new painting. I think we already have this one though? Either way, here's "Summer Ocean".

LUTE: By the way, I sold a painting of mine the other day! That's the first time someone other than you bought one!

BUSH: Really? Congratulations!

LUTE: This is all thanks to you, Bush.

LUTE: I'll be coming more often to draw in this village.

Lute's business is finally taking off, it's good to see.

...And yes, we've been his only buyer of his paintings over the years up to this point.

In a few weeks, we catch up with him again, and...!

BUSH: A...present?

LUTE: That's right.

LUTE: The person that bought my painting the other day really liked it.

LUTE: So that person is going to come to buy my paintings from time to time.

BUSH: Oh, really? Congratulations!

LUTE: Thank you kindly. This is all thanks to you, Bush. I was able to build my confidence because you encouraged me.

LUTE: Now about the present... I'd like to use you as my model for a painting.

LUTE: I'll hang this up in the usual place at your house. Please take a look whenever you feel like it.

BUSH: Th-thank you very much. But, hanging up a painting of myself feels kind of weird...

We obtain the final painting!

When we come home late, we can find Anette in the chair upstairs watching over a sleeping Juniper.

JUNIPER: Mrmm...

Well, she doesn't have a lot to say, predictably.

We check our painting list, to see the new "Portrait of Bush" at the bottom.

Amazing.

Just exceptional Chef's kiss.

I do like the autumn forest painting the most so that gets put back up.

In a few days time, we hit Summer 24th, and...!

ANETTE: Juniper seems to have endless energy.

JUNIPER: Daddy! Hug!

*And so she toddles towards Bush...*

ANETTE: Juniper! Stop running around the house!

ANETTE: You'll fall and hurt yourself!

JUNIPER: I've mastered walking! I'm fine.

*Juniper moves back to Anette...*

ANETTE: Juniper is getting really interested in your work lately and wants to start tilling the fields.

ANETTE: Juniper still can't read. I'm a little worried about that...

JUNIPER: Mooom! Where's the history textbook?

ANETTE: Actually I meant to say she reads too well for her age...

ANETTE: Will I get to teach her anything at this rate...? Well, anyways...

ANETTE: I always feel my best when the three of us are together.

JUNIPER: Morning, Daddy!

JUNIPER: Are you off to fix nature again or something?

JUNIPER: Come back soon!

With that, Juniper is as old as she'll get. She has entered her FINAL FORM.

"Juniper - It's too cute the way she walks. What if some prince from afar comes to tak her away??"

This is her final logbook entry. You may also note that she's wearing a Ribbon and holding the Toy Waterpot already.

We can finally give her all the toys we prepared. She can only have two on her as accessories at a time, although most of the ones that aren't the Ribbon replace one another.

Any toys that get replaced just teleport up into the toybox upstairs

She wears the Wooly and the Duck on her head for some reason.

JUNIPER: I wanna go, too!

BUSH: Didn't you just say that you were staying inside?

JUNIPER: Nah, I'm bored now! I'll follow you around.

As we leave the house, Juniper will follow us around town. Unfortunately she counts as a follower in the same way as Pony so we can't have them both out at the same time.

...Or can we?

====================================

CURRENT DAY
====================================

Music: Trampoli

JUNIPER: Aaaand done!

JUNIPER: The Shrub Family history is complete!

JUNIPER: Well, the first draft at least.

ANETTE: That's what this has all been about?

JUNIPER: Yup!

BUSH: I think Selphy put her up to it.

JUNIPER: It was my idea, Auntie's just been helping!

ANETTE: (Selphy's not your aunt...)

JUNIPER: Now I have to discover my next great project...

ANETTE: You do realize the history of our family doesn't stop here, right? What about tomorrow, or next month?

JUNIPER: ...

JUNIPER: Whoops. I'll let the next Shrub handle that.

JUNIPER: Isn't that right, Pony? We have to go on our own adventures first!

*Pony barks, wagging her tail.*

BUSH: Hey, before you two go, be sure to eat your pie.

JUNIPER: Food! Yaaay!

====================================

JUNIPER: Ooh, there's one last letter in here! How did I miss this?

JUNIPER: ...It's still sealed? Why's there no address?

ANETTE: H-Hold on! Don't open it!

ANETTE: That letter needs to stay there. It's a... very important memory.

JUNIPER: You and Dad always have trouble remembering things. Is this a magic charm to help with that? Or is it just a another post office thing?

ANETTE: Haha... It's something like that, yeah.

ANETTE: There's a time in the future I'll let you open it. I'll deliver it to you then.

JUNIPER: Aww. how much in the future? Everything's "when I'm older!"

JUNIPER: I can already recite the contents of every Noradian dictionary, you know!

ANETTE: I know, Junie, I know...

JUNIPER: ...Oh, I guess I forgot to close this episode out.

JUNIPER: This has been Trampoli TV! We thank you for watching and reading along to the end!

JUNIPER: Until next time...

JUNIPER: Goodnight!

Music: Goodnight

Odd Wilson · Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:47 pm

Syrelian wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 14, 2023 5:14 pm
Glad we sorted out Brodik, still never got an answer as to why nobody else notices Kross though, I guess he just has a weak presence

Also for "Peak Typos" hour, there was a letter where it was signed Tart, but said Torte in the body

The Iris situation is just kinda bleh... like just deleting a character like that is kinda lame, I was hoping for a realization that they didn't need to give up their friendship with each other or smth, but also you don't even get a unique design out of the whole deal, like laaaammmeee

I missed the wife vote but Anette is a good wifey choice with a top tier hat

I mentally reasoned that Kross was a special agent for so long that he blends into the background out of habit. Lara and Stella at least seem to know Kross exists, and a dialogue we didn't see for Hotpot festival also notes that Tabatha knows he exists. Anette's situation is an unexplained mystery.

The Tart/Torte typo happens again in this last letter. Given these two are singular letters triggered by getting married and having a kid, I imagine they were written earlier, before the whole other letter chain. After the localization changed the character name variable to Tart, they must have forgotten to go back and fix those letters.

It would've been really cool if Iris got a new look and everything, but in the end it really does just kinda delete a character. There's not a lot of unique dialogue for her after the merge, the only one I've seen is actually her remarking her room is too big for one person now.

The wife vote was pretty short, admittedly, but I've been pretty pumped to do these updates and I was already waiting on that vote for over a month.

Today's update isn't the final one, tomorrow's will be. I'll show off some interesting bits of dialogue we didn't see, the Iris Noire boss fight, and the few bits of cut content I've found in the files. That, plus my final comments on the whole LP and what comes next.

Odd Wilson · Sat Apr 15, 2023 11:23 pm

Final Update: Epilogue

Well, here we are. Still hard to believe it's finally here. I said I'd get this LP done, and by Bush, I did it.

But instead of waffling on endlessly about that, let's look at the last bit of content I can dig up for the LP.

======================================

CONTENT WRAPUP

======================================

IRIS NOIRE BOSS FIGHT

I promised this way long ago, and here it is at last.

The cutscenes progress the same up until after the animated cutscene of Noire charging Bush.

Music: Iris Noire Battle

From there, we're dropped right into the fight.

For this, I'm actually using my old file from nearly a decade ago pulled off my Wii SD card, which conveniently wasn't far away from this point in the game.

I tried for forever to get to this point on an old Bush savestate, but the event for Gelwein to open the gates on Whale Island just wouldn't happen.

We're currently invincible for sake of demonstration and carrying a max level farming hammer, aptly called The Hammer.

Iris fights exclusively with spells and no melee, despite what her animated cutscene would suggest.

The first of them is a slow moving wave of fire that explodes on contact.

It spreads out by a lot.

IRIS NOIRE: Go.

Another of her attacks has her create a frozen mist...

Then drops a moonlit meteor that travels slowly at you before exploding into a second wave out in 6 directions.

Also yes that green bar is our HP. We've got so much it doesn't fit on the screen or render properly half the time. This is totally legitimate and not a result of cheat codes, I assure you.

IRIS NOIRE: Fly.

Another attack is a large circle of violet lightning strikes.

Her voice acting is appropriately emotionless and reverb-y, given the mind control magic stuff going on.

IRIS NOIRE: Away with you!

This attack throws out a wave of dark runes in a random distribution. It's not easy to dodge, and does a hefty chunk of damage. I have unnecessarily boosted defense here, so in reality every one of her attacks does a lot of damage.

She rarely strays outside of the center circle and will often teleport back to the Dark Rune.

She can also strafe while casting, so good luck landing a hit.

There's also the fact you can't hurt her anyways.

It's these 4 computer monitor things evenly spread in the corners of the rooms that's the actual target.

They're not lightweight either. Bush is using a hammer with over 140 base damage and spamming the charge attack and they're not going down fast at all.

The challenge is Noire spamming magic at you while you try to break these.

Her moveset gets an update by the last machine. This attack summons a large variety of bat shaped projectiles that remain in place briefly...

Before all of them charge at your last position, giving you little time to escape. Complete with bat noises!

They then just swarm around briefly, although it's worth noting they don't hurt much. It's a move to stagger you so she can drop something real on your head.

Her other new attack summons a massive ring of blue spheres...

That descend to the ground in a chain of icicles.

Your best chance to get in and get hits is to bait her to use the fire wall. If your timing is right, you can get in between casts of the wave and have enough time to drop a special.

With a flash of light and a scream, the fight ends.

From there, the scene progresses kinda similarly. Gelwein just attributes the awareness-control being weakened thanks to Mist's presence and hidden power.

So that's that.

I do still like how they have an alternate, no-fight route if you've spent a lot of time befriending Blanche.

In the vein of some final gameplay stuff we never touched...

Way back when, we read a book about a guy and his squirrel. What it suggests to do is give a Rune Stone to a monster you like.

BUSH: I hope you'll lay some great eggs.

bush, ~~dogs~~ horses don't lay eggs

This prompts us to name a new monster...

And, um, we now have an egg!

I stand corrected, I guess everything lays eggs.

These take a long while to hatch, but pop out a monster with a higher level and the same friendship as the parent.

But of course, no monster can replace Pony, so I just didn't do this. (i also forgot)

And while we're in the menu, let's take a final look at Bush's stats.

Total Villager Friendship:

Mist: 9.9 FP, 6.7 LP
Rosetta: Maxed
Lara: 9.5 LP & FP
Melody: Maxed
Bianca: 5 FP, 6 LP (strange how LP is higher than FP)
Tabatha: Maxed

Eunice: 10 FP, 8.8 LP
Cinnamon: Maxed
Anette: Maxed
Selphy: Maxed
Uzuki: 10 FP, 7.4 LP
Iris: Maxed

Turner : 5.8 FP
Rita: 5 FP
Erik: 7.8 FP
Kanno: Maxed
Candy: 6.8 FP
Stella: Maxed

Ganesha: Maxed
Marco: 4.6 FP
Danny: 5.4 FP
Lute: Maxed
Minerva: 2.9 FP
Kross: Maxed

Brodik: 0.8 FP
Nolan: 5.5 FP
Juniper: 4.3 FP

House has every decoration possible, plus a barn with 30 slots total.

1043 Lumber to spare too, not bad.

A buncha books. It's nearly every cookbook and all the crafting books except for weapons that arent Axes or Magic.

Goes to show that nothing outdid the absolutely crazy 1st summer's output. In the top 5 alone, it makes up for 3 slots and adds up to over 300,000g of total profit.

One summer.

Most of our monsters hover around the 2-3 FP range.

Pony is at 5 because she traveled with us constantly. I did brush all the monsters every day before the large timeskips, so this goes to show the friendship benefits from that and how impossible it is to get FP 10 on a high level monster.

Level 59, and our eternal MVP and best friend.

Bush himself ended just shy of 67, with a very strong skillset. The general average is around 60 skillpoints, with Weapons being our lowest.

75 Lumber/Axe and 57 Magic ain't bad.

We've also got about 50 something Fruit Subs and 40 something Bamboo Rice stockpiled.

And for our last bit of image content, here's some bonus images.

Here's a looping gif of Bianca brushing Franswah. I think I forgot to ever use this. But it goes with the Mist and Rosetta ones.

Here's Bush and Pony's HUD icons.

And here's some profile icons for some of the villagers.

On to the far more text based stuff....

DIALOGUE WE DIDN'T SEE

Having a text dump really lets you pick up on things you might never have found yourself. Some of this, I tried to see, some of it we just didn't because it never came up.

First up is comments on Juniper. The various villagers have lines for it, some if they're the parent others if they're just visiting but I couldn't get them to go off.

Seriously, I tried. Maybe I was getting shot down thanks to festival or pre-festival dialogue, I dunno.

Some of these definitely seem exclusive to them being the parents though.

Anyways, here they are.

Book Club Induction wrote:

SELPHY: Juniper is so tiny!

SELPHY: I know! Let's start her up with an accelerated program to be a book lover with this picture book...

BUSH: Stop it...

Juniper needs no help being a book lover though. She was literate before she could speak. (At least, according to her retelling of the events.)

These are the dangers of too much knowledge + drinking weird snake oil nearly a year ago.

Rune Factory's Continuing Aunt Situation wrote:

MINERVA: Juniper, you're so cute. I already knew that since it's Sister's child.

MINERVA: Oh... From Juniper's point of view, I'm an aunt?!

MINERVA: I'm an aunt at my age?! Nooooo!

Obviously, this is if you married Tabatha. Juniper doesn't look any different in this regard, although she should be a half-elf.

Is this the time I mention that Turner and Rita will eventually have another kid, meaning if you married Eunice, Bush's kid will have an aunt/uncle younger than them?

Early Rune Factory, I swear.

Melody's Bath Pricing wrote:

MELODY: Juniper is so big now!♪

MELODY: Small children get to go in our bath for free, so bathe with Bush as much as you want!♪

Melody doesn't charge for kids. Given that 10g is already a pittance, she really just runs the bath as a non-profit.

Juniper's Spirit Song wrote:

CANDY: Juniper!

CANDY: Once you get bigger, I'll teach you to sing. It's a promise!

We don't know if she posesses the ability to sing the spirit song, but I imagine Candy will be a good teacher.

The Gimmick of Erik Singleman wrote:

ERIK: Young man!

ERIK: ...Wait, maybe I shouldn't call you "young man" anymore since you're a father.

BUSH: You can still call me that.

ERIK: Really? Take care of Juniper then, young man!

Erik persists with his quirky means of address, even into the future. We never saw it, but rarely he'll say "my pastoral brother".

ERIK: What is it, my pastoral brother?! Are you researching your own plants after seeing my work? Wonderful, wonderful!

This guy.

Another font of dialogue is Quiz Day.

Mystery of the Half-Elf wrote:

CANDY: Which of the following is a half-elf?

1 .Ganesha
2. Kanno
3. Mist

Apparently Ganesha is half-elven? Her ears are huge if that's the case.

There's three half-elves in RF2 and they're all on the normal-sized but pointy ear variety.

Maybe this meant to say Marco?

Erik Wins (But Also Loses) wrote:

ERIK: Now, now my kittens! If you want to send me love letters, send it to the address below!

[We are no longer accepting letters.]

[A minute later...]

KANNO: Here comes Mister Erik, still very excited...

ERIK: I dedicate this victory to my lovely girlfriend, the 'goddess of victory.'

KANNO: His girlfriend is the 'goddess of victory,' so he says. However, in reality, he has no girlfriend.

KANNO: I hope he'll get a girlfriend by this time next year...

KANNO: Anyway, see you all again next year!

destroyed :rip:

Cinnamon Victory wrote:

KANNO: Oh, this is wonderful! My granddaughter, Cinnamon, has won a great victory!

CINNAMON: ... This doesn't excite me much.

[A minute later...]

KANNO: Here comes Miss Cinnamon, still very excited...

CINNAMON: ... ... ...What?

KANNO: Due to personal reasons, I will not hear any complaints!

KANNO: Thank you! See you all again next year!

Selphy, Knowledgemaster wrote:

KANNO: Here comes Miss Selphy, still very excited...

SELPHY: I thought for sure, it was all over that one time. But, reading is my specialty. I'll do this again, for sure!

KANNO: In the end, what conquered the great battle was a sleepless night of cramming and napping during the day.

SELPHY: Thank you... I'm glad I'm a resident here. See you again next year!

KANNO: This is all thanks to all the other players that weren't much of a challenge.

I think that line is Kanno's at least. I have to guess with some of these.

Still, Super Gramps doesn't hold back, sheesh.

The nun overcomes stage fright wrote:

LARA: It's time for a commercial break, right? Hi, um...I run an infirmary at the church from 9 to...what? I'm out of time?

[A minute later...]

KANNO: Here comes Miss Lara, still very excited...

LARA: At the time, I decided that first I must calm down.

KANNO: That's Miss Lara, who cannot improvise in crucial moments.

KANNO: Also, she says she is going to donate the entire prize money to the Buffamoo Foundation.

KANNO: Anyway, that's all folks! It's heaven when you win, but if you lose, it's okay! See you again next year!

Lara barely gets a chance to talk. What's the Buffamoo Foundation? We'll never know.

A win for the Coquilles wrote:

KANNO: Quizzes require mind, body, and a bit of luck... This year, the mind simply added an edge to all that.

[A minute later...]

KANNO: Here comes Miss Tabatha, still very excited...

TABATHA: I was told by Little Miss Bianca, "Win!" So I had to...

KANNO: To win only because she was told to. What a faithful - and fearless - maid Tabatha is...

KANNO: That concludes this year's contest! See you again next year! ♪

And a last little note, if there's a tie in points, Kanno gives the top prize to a random audience member. The most interesting one is:

ROSETTA: Just as I planned. See that, Mist? I win!

Rosetta's rivalry extends even to pure chance.

I don't know the speaker of this last line, but it's funny so:

UNKNOWN: You know, I'm the one that donated this...

And now for some other random stuff.

Marco's Innovative Self Defense Technique wrote:

MARCO: Even if a monster knocks my weapon out of my hands, I think you can get by with farming tools.

MARCO: But, I also thought of a new sword style! Get your enemies off guard, then beat them with...the "Backscratcher"!

MARCO: Isn't that great? I'll teach you the secrets to it!

BUSH: Er, thanks...

MARCO: Don't mention it. Aren't we adventure buddies?

BUSH: (Do people normally carry around a "Backscratcher" everywhere they go...?)

Backscratchers are pretty decent weapons in later games, usually in the early game.

Bianca Does A Thing (Tabatha Proposal) wrote:

TABATHA: I was afraid of this... I'm so sorry. I'm happy, but I cannot.

TABATHA: Because I am in the service of Little Miss, I had relinquished my throne to remain here.

TABATHA: I cannot simply marry just because I want to...

TABATHA: I'm terribly sorry... I'll always cherish your love for me, so...

BIANCA: Oh, stop. Don't be so stubborn.

TABATHA: L-little Miss?!

BIANCA: I already know of the situation. Let me say this as your friend.

BIANCA: Tabatha, you love him, don't you? You want to be with him, right?

BIANCA: Then you should marry him!

BIANCA: I refuse to be the reason why you decided to give up your happiness.

BIANCA: You don't need to worry about me anymore...

BIANCA: Just don't do something you'd regret for the rest of your life.

TABATHA: Miss... ...I... Thank you...so much.

Iris's Ambitions wrote:

IRIS BLANCHE: Bush, do you have a big ambition of your own?

BUSH: An ambition...? Not really. I just want to spend every day in happiness and I will be satisfied.

IRIS BLANCHE: That's a nice goal!

IRIS BLANCHE: I was worried because I didn't have any big ambitions or dreams, but now I feel much more relieved!

---------------------

IRIS NOIRE: Bush, I have this huge ambition.

BUSH: Oh? What kind of ambition?

IRIS NOIRE: I want to get completely suntanned on a day in midsummer!

BUSH: That...sounds like a difficult ambition.

IRIS NOIRE: But, you have to keep your ambitions huge or they're meaningless!

---------------------

IRIS NOIRE: Bush, I have this huge ambition.

BUSH: Oh? What kind of ambition?

IRIS NOIRE: I want to get my very own field to farm.

BUSH: Oh, really...? I'm sure you can do it, Iris.

IRIS NOIRE: Really? But considering how I'd have to work on them during the day, it seems very hard.

---------------------

IRIS NOIRE: Bush, I have this huge ambition.

BUSH: Oh? What kind of ambition?

IRIS NOIRE: I want to go out for a walk with my favorite parasol.

IRIS NOIRE: But I get sleepy when I'm in the sun so I have lot of work ahead of me...

BUSH: Oh, really...? I'll try to help you achieve your ambition, Iris.

IRIS NOIRE: Thank you! I hope you can realize yours, too!

BUSH: My ambition...? Hahaha.

Finally, all of the bachelorettes have different nicknames for Bush when married. Here's the list.

Marriage Nicknames wrote:
Anette, Eunice, Mist = Honey

Selphy = Hun

Rosetta = Darling

Melody = Sweetie

Lara = Sweetheart

Uzuki = "Mine husband"

Tabatha, Iris = Beloved

Bianca = Husband

Cinnamon = Nothing

Some final other bits:

- Mist's later LP event reveals that Mr. Dog is getting better at controlling the rune absorption. Also her two ducks have a baby around the same time as you, I think.

- Apparently Rita owns a whip, and she threatens to whip Bush 100 times if you try to take from her apple stock.

No, I'm not joking.

"If you try to sneak a bite, I'm gonna whip you 100 times, Bush!"

"Well, this is perfect. I was just itching to test out my whip."

Anyways.

[CUT CONTENT]

I've picked up a decent bit of cut content through the text dump, and strangely, looking in the savefile.

Yeah, there's leftover filler data in there for some reason, mostly interaction text. It's nothing that isn't already in the files though.

The notable cut content is this selection of events that seemed to have played when staring at the sky. I have had Bush make a minor comment when staring at the sky for a long while, but I'm led to believe these are cut thanks to their use of @Raguna@ internally, instead of the actual player variable, ÿ 0é0°0Êÿ. Or, in hex, 0A FF 20 30 E9 30 B0 30 CA FF 20.

(ÿ [PO›ÿ is Juniper's variable, by the way.)

If they're actually in the game and I just missed them... whoops? This is me just making an inference. Whether or not they're used, here they are anyways.

There's a little over 20,000 characters here, so I put the rest in a separate test post. Here's just the most interesting ones, sans portraits.

Looking at the Sky (Unknown Speaker/ Mist?) wrote:
UNKNOWN: Bush, what are you doing in front of my house?

UNKNOWN: Don't tell me...you were peeping?

BUSH: Wh-what?!

BUSH: No! I was just looking at the sky because the weather's so nice!

UNKNOWN: Oh... Sorry about that. I was so sure that you...
That's really mean...

UNKNOWN: *giggle* Sorry. I'll tell you something good by way of apology.

BUSH: Something good...?

UNKNOWN: That's right. I heard that crops grow faster in areas where Runeys are thriving.

UNKNOWN: Apparently, it could speed up the process by up to 4 days. Pretty cool, huh?

BUSH: Yeah, that is cool...but is it true?

UNKNOWN: I think so. Candy told me this, so it must be.

UNKNOWN: You should try to help Runeys thrive.

Anette's Events wrote: -LOOKING AT THE SKY-

ANETTE: What are you doing here?

BUSH: Oh. Hey, Anette.

BUSH: I was looking at the sky. The weather's so nice today...

ANETTE: Ha ha. I guess that makes two of us.

BUSH: Two of us...? You mean you look up at the sky, too?

ANETTE: Only sometimes.

ANETTE: When I'm looking up at the sky like this, it feels like I can forget about all my troubles.

ANETTE: Don't tell anyone about this okay? It's a secret.

-FALLING ASLEEP-

ANETTE: Today's weather is sooo nice!

BUSH: Yeah, it is.

ANETTE: This is nice. Looking up at the sky like this is not half bad.

BUSH: Haha, no it's not.

ANETTE: ...

BUSH: ...

BUSH: ...? Um...Anette?

ANETTE: Zzz... zzz...

ANETTE: Special deliveryyy... It's from...um... !!

ANETTE: D-did I just fall asleep? I didn't talk in my sleep or anything, did I...?

BUSH: Ahaha...

ANETTE: Crap!! I did, didn't I?! I did, huh?!

ANETTE: Man... This is so embarrassing...

BUSH: You didn't say anything to be embarrassed about.

ANETTE: It's not what I said that's important!

ANETTE: Oh, man... How could I... Listen, Bush! You can't tell anyone about this, okay?!

There's also a final one that revisits Lara talking to the dream tree.

Lara, Tree Mom wrote:
LARA: Have you come to talk to him, too, Bush?

BUSH: You mean the tree we saw in the dream?
Have you been talking to this tree, Lara?

LARA: Oh, no. I can't talk directly to him, and I haven't had any dreams since that day.

LARA: It's just that I feel like I can connect with his heart when I'm looking up at the sky like this.

BUSH: That's because you can. Besides, this tree really does look very gentle.

LARA: Yeah... I think so, too.

You can find the rest of this potentially unused text HERE.

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MY RETROSPECTIVE

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Music: The Sweetest Time

(Have some music links of some of my favorite tracks to spread it out.)

So, final opinion on the game having come back to it after all these years?

Frontier is far from a perfect game, but it has it's moments and I've honestly grown really attached to the adventures of Bush and this strange little town. I suppose when you spend nearly 90 hours of gameplay and hundreds more in writing updates, you either learn to love it or hate it. Writing the last updates were very bittersweet- I'm happy to have completed this, but I'm sad to see it go.

That was Rune Factory: Frontier- and with it, my first LP. It's hard to believe it's been a year and a half since it started and since I decided to pick up the art of doing LPs. The whole of this not only shows Bush's adventure, but also that of finding my footing here and in the medium itself. It's a large jump from merely reading what finds it's way to the archive over a few years, and it's been one with a lot of up and downs. I haven't touched any of my old commentary in proofreading, even if I might have wanted to change it.

Did I ever tell you that doing RFF was a last-minute change from what I did have planned? Turned out better than it should've, really.

Music: To You

The Runey system remains dysfunctional, and I'll join in with the chorus that says to just Action Replay that mechanic away. It's just so very, very time consuming to the point where the faster crop growths don't even feel that rewarding. But I proved it could be done, I suppose. I think if the harvester was quality-of-lifed into just a menu where you can pick how many you want to take or put out at time, it'd help A LOT. And maybe if there was something more interesting to the bonuses or something, like certain crops being able to gain levels if there was a heavy majority of a certain kind of Runey.

Goodbye Runey menace, if only you weren't so tedious.

Music: Whale Island Outside

The soundtrack's now got some particular favorites for me, Whale Island Outside is one I've always liked, I've got a deeper appreciation for Kross's theme, and the seasonal tracks all land pretty well. The Spring theme remains uniquely interesting to me, as I remember loading up the Flash powered before it was lost forever website to hear it as I awaited the day I could play the game.

Music: Grimoire Song - Full Version

Grimoire Song, particularly the finale version, always gives me some chills. Sure, the finale passes by rather swiftly and we only meet Gelwein proper a total of 3 times, but I think it's assisted by how much time you spend with these characters. All those little tunes you hear the girls hum from time to time coming together is great. And speaking of the girls...

Music: Spring

The bachelorettes are all pretty good, though some definitely outshine the others. The seeds of the unbelievably wacky characters that would come in RF3 can be seen here through a number of the girls, (Selphy and Melody in particular,) and they're all generally likeable. I do wish Eunice wasn't stuck with the unfortunate shadow lingering over hers (be it the diet or the strained marriage), and I feel like Rosetta kinda didn't get a lot in the end. Cinnamon's was really minor too, but I can kinda respect it. She delivered content through other means.

Music: Summer

Anette is high on the list for me, not in just because her situation is pretty relatable, but particularly for remaining a constant highlight to every morning. I went out of the way to do the narrative thing just because I felt like it, but also because I wanted to give her a bit more agency in the overall story. They never do explain why she can't see Kross or why monsters chase her, though.

Music: Kross' Theme

On that note, Kross himself deserves special mention for being such an interesting figure you have to go out of your way to learn more about. There's no mechanical reward for it, it's just being friends with a cool guy and a bit of connective info from this game to RF1. I didn't remember a lot about Kross from when I first played this, so seeing the story play out was rather fun.

Music: Green Ruins

Mist's Turnip Mafia thing remains a thing I joked about, ran with the joke, put the joke down, and eventually picked it back up. I don't actually dislike Mist, she's got some funny lines, I just feel like she's not very stand-out in this game compared to her RF1 appearance. (Though to be fair, she gets way more dialogue than most other characters in that game.) I still don't know what her hidden power is, whether or not she's a vampire, related to the experiments, or some sort of Earthmate variant, the game never really said.

Music: Iris' Spirit Song

I kinda wish the game had focused more on Iris, to be honest. It really looks as if it was supposed to be more about them, but it was decided Mist had to take focus being this weird, pseudo-sequel. Or maybe they ran out of time or ideas- unrealized potential is ever the name of the game with Neverland. Still, it's unfortunate that her final event mostly deletes the other Iris in practice. Still, probably budget/time constraints.

Music: Rune Factory 1 - Kardia Park

I still can't tell you how this game is a sequel, just that it takes place in a time period later than RF1.

But I suppose I've yammered enough commentary at you for sixty-something updates, there's more important things to talk about now that we're here. The question I'm sure at least one person wants to ask is...

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WHERE TO GO FROM HERE?

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Well, on forwards with Tides of Destiny is the easy answer, right? Unlike Frontier, I never saw a lot of that game, and honestly, didn't give it much of a chance at the time so who knows where my opinion will land?
While, I definitely could and still plan to LP it someday, (perhaps it'll happen in the next year or two,) I need some space from Rune Factory as well as time for other LPs. As much as I wish I could just write LP updates every day all the time, I'm not capable of surviving off the absorption of knowledge like Selphy.

Then, is the answer reviving my other languishing LPs? No, but rest assured I will ressurect them someday. I did with this one, right? (I own that import cart of J2 for a reason, after all.) And it's not to say I won't find the time for something small to run on the side every once in a while, here's just to hoping I don't underestimate the workload again

Doing Frontier was driven by Lord Hippoman's LP of Rune Factory 1, one of two LPs that first got me hooked on this. The other is Sylphid's Atelier Shallie LP. And thus, it only makes sense I move forward with a game that has ties to the latter...

The next LP I will be launching soon (after a short break or so) is...

(if you watch the SA Sandcastle thread, you've already known about this)

Blue Reflection: Second Light, followed by the original Blue Reflection (and maybe even Ray too, if LPing an anime is something that's even possible).

It's an endeavor that will take a long time to complete and I've been so excited to get it started- it's a series I absolutely adore and Second Light is on par with RF3 for me as an all-time favorite. With Frontier done and my footing found, I feel like I'm ready to give this the highest quality, most extensive LP I can manage for it.

If you enjoyed the slice-of-life or the romance aspects of this game, you'll readily enjoy what Second Light has to offer in that regard, and it has so much more beyond just that in it's music, visual presentation, and combat. We'll even have voting, which despite being spaced out, will still be more frequent than in this LP. (It's also a sequel and also about amnesia, somehow.)

Give it a shot when the LP drops, I hope you won't be disappointed.

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FAREWELL

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To close this out, thank you to each and everyone of you readers for sticking through to the end. Whether you're an active poster, just a voter, or even a lurker, you have my thanks. There's nothing better than knowing people enjoy my work.

If you want to support me, the best way is to just keep on reading. Post if you can think of something to comment on or ask- I won't judge if you don't, I lurk in a lot of threads too. It can be hard to think of something to post sometimes, really.

_{(you can also throw a tip my way if you really want to, but don't feel pressured. heck, mentioning it feels weird)}

The thread will stay up until it gets archived (proofreading and a bit of cleanup work), but feel free to ask any unanswered questions you have.

You can find Bush's savefile and the text dump here, for whatever use you may have of them.

Here's also an anonymous comment box that I'll keep open. So even if you weren't here when this was live, you can still leave your own message.

Music: Title Theme

88 Hours. Man.

..,Well, that's really all that's left to say. Bush will live on in his own peaceful life now, working to remove the runey threat from all future games. For now, we say farewell to Trampoli and the strange people that inhabit it.

Bush, Pony, Anette, Juniper- until we meet again.

...After one last dirt nap, for old time's sake.

Syrelian · Sun Apr 16, 2023 4:24 am

Huzaah to a completed LP, and away with you to prepare my future text and photo based sustenance, you are now compelled to create LP upon LP and also an Anime Watchalong, for it has been judged

More seriously, solid work but also how dare you take a nap in front of Juniper like that, teaching her bad habits, take care of your wrists and shit okie

Odd Wilson · Tue Apr 18, 2023 4:28 pm

Syrelian wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 16, 2023 4:24 am
Huzaah to a completed LP, and away with you to prepare my future text and photo based sustenance, you are now compelled to create LP upon LP and also an Anime Watchalong, for it has been judged

take care of your wrists and shit okie

The audience compels me to LP, and so LP I must.

I've been resting my hands, no worries. My wrists are fine, it's the actual fingers. I've been doing a lot of better since I've found some tricks and changed to a better keyboard.

Blue Reflection will be soon, just finishing up cleaning this LP for archival.

Syrelian wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 16, 2023 4:24 am
More seriously, solid work but also how dare you take a nap in front of Juniper like that, teaching her bad habits,

JUNIPER: Moooom! Dad's on the ground again!

BUSH: im fine

BUSH: its just for the camera

JUNIPER: Nevermind! He's just being weird again!

BUSH: actually i cant get up

JUNIPER: Moooooooom! Laraaaaaaa!

Odd Wilson · Thu Apr 20, 2023 2:42 pm

All should be good, sending it in to be archived!

Definitely learned I should be on top of the cleanup and prep for archival as each update comes out instead of letting it all pile up at the end.

Catch you in the next one!