We're playing Suikoden II? Hooray!

Running randomly through the alleys of the city Hiro comes across this seemingly trustworthy woman. She gives him two packages, to hold onto until she comes later to pick them up. Apparently Hiro’s never heard the world “mule” before.



A little later Hiro runs across Clive, looking considerably more badass than his Suikoden I outing. He’s looking for two objects, named Moon and Star, and Hiro just happened to receive two packages. He wouldn’t say the woman was blonde, though, so he says he hasn’t seen her.

He finds Elza by the city gates, but just as he’s handing over the packages Clive shows up. Clive, an officer of the Howling Voice Guild, is hunting her down to resolve some unspecified crimes. Before he can grab her, however, she uses Hiro as a shield to make her escape. The Howling Voice Guild is a very powerful and very mysterious guild of Harmonia. Their members are hired for protection and assassination services, and are unique in their use of guns. The conflict between Clive and Elza was hinted briefly (and very subtly) in the first game, and is much expanded and resolved in this game.

Next update we’ll visit city hall and do some hardcore recruiting, and finally I’ll have enough characters to let you guys vote for the party!

You're doing the Clive subquest? No fucking way. You're either brave, stupid, or both.

Foreshadowing: this is true in future Suikoden installments as well. [No one liked Lulu anyway.]

Needs more Futch and Humphrey!

Oh my god.

I never realized how much Jill sounds like she's voiced by a dude pretending to be a woman until now.

I'm sorry, I think we've missed something important here...



sorry bout that. slow day at work

SNAKETEETH!

Personally, I'm more weirded out by snakegums, and also the fact that they don't seem to have actual fangs.

Sounds to me like she's saying Hilda looks very good indeed. Personally, I've seen hotter.


It's pretty easy to hack save files and reset the timer.

Hiro, having had his fill of being a mule, thinks it’s about time to meet with Viktor, but first we have to drop off Pilika. Presumably because Viktor scares her.


We run into Viktor outside the City Hall, and he’s apparently very anxious for us to meet someone.


That someone is Anabelle, the mayor of Muse.

They talk for a while about Viktor’s fort and the inhuman nature of Luca, and then Viktor asks her to keep Hiro and his friends safe.


She recognizes Jowy to be a fugitive from Highland…


…and asks Hiro and Nanami if they know Genkaku.



Upon hearing of his death she expresses remorse for not being able to atone for some unmentioned crime against him. More on that later!

She leaves us in Jess, her manservant’s care. We’re free to explore the town, as long as we don’t disturb Anabelle.


Inside this supply room/library (?) Jess and an aide are discussing something.




They’ve acquired some Highland army uniforms to sneak people in and check out Highland’s provisions, to get an idea of how long of a campaign they’re prepared for. Unfortunately the uniforms they got are from the Unicorn Brigade. Luckily for them Hiro used to be a unicorn!

Nanami’s unhappy about the risky idea, but Hiro and Jowy agree to help.


We’ve got to infiltrate the army camp just across the Highland border to the North-East. Before we do that though, I think it’s time we look for some new allies!


Inside Leona’s bar we find this…experienced looking woman talking to herself. Mere photos can’t convey the annoyance of recruiting Anita. Basically you have to talk to her over and over and over until she gives a random request, such as asking for an Antidote (by which I assume she means penicillin), then as soon as you fulfill her request you have to leave town, come back, and do it again, until the game gives in and lets her join.


Eventually she caves and joins us, probably on our promise of free, confidential health care.


009/108 – Anita

We find Dr. Huan’s androgynous pupil Tuta wandering around town. Huan sees the great opportunity for his student to take care of our formative young army. Notice I say that HE sees the opportunity. I fail to see the wisdom in having a ten year old in charge of our health. Oh well, on the plus side he’s a really shitty fighter!


010/108 – Tuta


Alright, I think we’ve bled Muse dry of recruits. Let’s check on things in Matilda. We stop by the Highway Village, halfway between the capital of Matilda and its comically unprotected border.

Inside the inn we run into, literally, an older Futch. Think back to the ending of Suikoden, if we find Futch you know who must be near!



We find Humphrey inside the inn, sitting by a window.


Humphrey and Futch were trying to head for Harmonia, but the war has closed all the borders and they’re stuck in Matilda.

Outside we see Futch talking to a local kid he’s become friends with.


He shows Kent one of Black’s scales. He can’t go back to being a Dragon Knight. A Dragon Knight is nothing without a dragon.


The reason for the trip to Harmonia becomes clear: to find another dragon. Futch promises if he finds another dragon he’ll come back and give Kent a ride.

Inside the inn Hiro tries to have a conversation with Humphrey. Or hit on him, I’m not quite sure. Either way all the responses are “……”



Humphrey goes over to one of the hotel staff, then leaves. He apparently enjoyed my advances and paid for my lodgings. How nice…..


The next morning Hiro sees Kent talking to a villager. He mentions a dragon on Mt. Rakutei, to the north. Ignoring the warnings, Kent runs straight to the mountain.


When Kent doesn’t return people get worried. The farmer comes clean to Futch and Humphrey, who decide to go looking for him. To thank them for the lodgings Hiro agrees to go too.

Uh, you’re certainly welcome, Futch.



God I love Humphrey.


Oh hell yes. There’s just one key thing to note about Humphrey: his defense. We’ll see more of that later.


After some more grinding and equipment we head north to Mt. Rakutei. (Keep in mind this is extreme sequence breaking)

We try to carry on but we’re blocked by a magic barrier. Fortunately Hiro’s rune blows it away, allowing us to continue.


We find Kent at the top of the mountain, unconscious. The game never exactly explains how he survives the hordes of vicious monsters, or how he got past the magical barrier. So let’s just assume it’s magic.


Just as we’re about to rescue him, though, we’re attacked by a harpy.

At this stage of the game this fight is tough. You can upgrade your armor in Matilda, but we’re stuck with level 5 weapons, no good runes (other than Hiro and Jowy’s), and no good healing items.




The harpy’s standard attack is to just swoop in and kick someone, but she also has several powerful attacks that hit everyone at once.


Notice he’s taking two damage. This is why I love Humphrey.

Eventually, after many rounds the harpy goes down. Hiro, like all good RPG protagonists, isn’t above posing.


Kent comes to and insists he heard a dragon’s cry. Futch refuses to believe there are any dragons around, but Humphrey decides to have a look.


Further ahead we find a strange egg, belonging to a wild dragon.


The reason why Futch was so adamant about leaving is that he’s afraid to replace his dragon. He doesn’t want any one but Black.


Humphrey, like the badass he his, draws his sword and says if Futch doesn’t need the egg he’ll destroy it.

With no mother the dragon will likely die, and even if it does live it’ll grow up to attack people, so Humphrey has to destroy it.


His reverse psychology works and Futch stops him before he kills the dragon.



While they’re talking, though, the egg hatches and the dragon is born.


Humphrey says he’s never heard of a white dragon being born. He explains to Futch that he doesn’t have to feel guilty for taking another dragon. I’m also assuming that his speech is poorly translated and that he doesn’t actually have precious memories of Black’s death.

Futch takes the dragon and names him Bright. (Side note: Who says “christen you?” If you’re already saying “christen” you may as well say “christen thee.”)


At the bottom of the mountain Humphrey asks how he could repay us. The obvious answer is to join, and he agrees.


As does Futch.


We take Kent back to town. Futch gives Kent Black’s scale, as a promise that he’ll return as a Dragon Knight. Our job here is done, so let’s keep looking for recruits.


011/108 – Futch

012/108 - Humphrey


Haven’t been to Camp Fliktor in a while, I wonder how things are going?


We run into another familiar face, Templeton. Apparently he has a sixth sense for finding burned out shells of civilization. Before we can ask for a map though, he runs off. He’s predictable though, so we just have to check the other smoldering ruins in the area.


Et voil�, we find him in Toto. Horrified by the damage and pissed that it’ll mess up his map he agrees to join the fight.


013/108 - Templeton

He also gives us a map. Hooray!


Alright, that’s about enough recruiting for now. We’ve got three spots open, and you can find the list here.

(Oh, because I forgot earlier

014/108 – Tsai

015/108 - Gengen)

Up next: A trip into Highland

I vote Mukumuku, Tuta, and Anita.

Millie, Kinnison, Tuta. Fwa ha ha.

Humphrey, Shiro, Gengen.

Humphry, Futch, Shiro.