Vagrant Story: Part I
I’ve decided (mostly due to boredom) to link to the story clips from the Squaresoft RPG Vagrant Story. This is one of my favourite games due to the quality of writing and the intricacy of some of the characters. By the by, I’m not actually affiliated with Avendasora (the guy who uploaded the videos) at all, I’m just using them because I found them on Youtube. So, nothing bar whatever commentary I make is mine (anything else will be taken down upon request, the e-mail address can be found in the “Contact” section). If you like the game and have a PS2 you should really consider buying a copy on the internet somewhere; it’s really worth it.
I think it goes without saying that there will be huge spoilers for the game in this. So don’t read on if that bothers you.
Anyway, onwards with the intros…
A few important premises are established in the above video. There are three “factions” in Vagrant Story. The protagonist (Ashley Riot, a Riskbreaker) and Callo Merlose (an inquisitor) are working for the VKP (Valendia Knights of the Peace), the cult Müllenkamp led by Sydney Losstarot and the Crimson Blades who work for the Cardinal. It seems that Müllenkamp were being funded by Duke Bardorba and have now invaded his house and taken hostages (but he himself wasn’t there, instead being at his secondary residence). They’re demanding the release of their men and the abdication of the current Cardinal (Batistum). Long story short, Ashley has to go in and do something about Sydney.
The guy with the rapier near the start of the video is Romeo Guildenstern, leader of the Crimson Blades and important character. The guy around 2:10 saying “torch the chambers and kill the hostages” is Sydney’s right-hand man Hardin, another important character who will feature more later. Sydney is introduced (you can’t miss him) and seems to have some rather eerie powers. He also tells Hardin to go with the boy (Joshua, the Duke’s son) to Leá Monde (the city where the game’s action will take place).
Well, it’s Duke Bardorba himself…talking to a mystery man who we’ll be seeing again later. It seems everybody (Ashley, Sydney, Guildenstern and Bardorba’s agent here) are all headed for a city known as Leá Monde. Leá Monde’s history is then elaborated upon (basically an earthquake hit it and everybody there died). Ashley goes through the wine cellars into Leá Monde and Merlose tells him what she knows about Sydney and his cult.
