So, begins my chronicling of the books of Wild Arms 3… We’ll see how long my attention span really holds out on this project…
Right off the bat, tutorial dungeon #1: Gob’s Hideout manages some wonderfully deft world building, actually! This random old mansion, now taken over by goblins, lays out its own little history in a pair of books scattered across the house in journals by the last of the Whateley & Co. family business. (This might be an obtuse reference to H.P.Lovecraft’s short story, The Dunwich Horror, centered around the family legacy of one Wilbur Whateley.) The two books make innocuous mention of “desire” and a [Stone Wolf], both referring to a summon from much later in the game – a (were)wolf god named Luceid, which is unlocked by retrieving the Wolf Idol item from this same dungeon.
Another book makes mention of Alan Smithy, a name attributed to a legendary Drifter whom you’ll never see in the game, but whose many tips and anecdotes you’ll bump into scattered around the overworld in the form of signposts. The pseudonym Alan Smithee is actually an old film industry trick from the 70s and 80s, in which a director, upset with the lack of creative control afforded them in making a film they were in turn dissatisfied with, would be credited as Director: Alan Smithee to keep the film off their filmography.
Book title: It Came Time To Stand, Duchy
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: Arctica Castle
Reportedly, Adlehyde Duchy retrieved the excavated Golems yesterday. Even though they must be researched, a weapon of such magnitude could be lethal.
As we are known for our heritage, we, the Arctica dukedom, have an obligation to explore all traditions. For the time being, we will proceed with the excavation and research. To open the future of Filgaia, we need the knowledge of the past... This is the way of the Arctica dukedom.
“The magic book ‘De La Metalica’ was placed in children’s literature… next to ‘Tragedy of Dolly’. I feel unhappy more than angry… I wonder if other people feel strange when they see books placed in the wrong genre or not in alphabetical order?”
Book title: The Tower to Malduke
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: Pandemonium
Malduke. The word means Universal God... It also means absolute existence, and there is nothing else like it.
According to legend, a human climbed the high tower looking to find the
universal and absolute power. A manmade place that shines in Filgaia's orbit.
The New Moon, Malduke, is also accompanied by the highest tower ever built. The tower to Malduke is called Ka Dingel. However, no one knows where Ka Dingel is located. People say it was sealed away so that nobody could reach Malduke. The truth is, no one really knows. To many, it's like the New Moon is looking down on Filgaia and taunting us to unlock its mysteries.
Book title: Human Potential
Game: Wild Arms 2
Location: Crimson Castle
How amazing humans are. Despite their short lives and weak bodies, they surpass us in imagination. Lacking both sharp claws and fangs, humans are the weakest of creatures in their natural state. Yet, indomitable in spirit, they master flight and magic.
The most amazing of them all is <Sword Magess>, who wields the Guardian Blade, Argetlahm. This one fought the demon who ate our
brethren. She compels a reassessment of human potential.
Book title: When the Last Second is Gone
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: Adlehyde
There is one altar which rules the universal time flow. It is called the "Perpetual Engine". The door which leads into eternity has been closed off for years and years at the altar.
Should you indeed hold the "Time Key", stand on the altar, face the pillar, and then request the door to open. The morning signifies 7 o' clock; the afternoon signifies 2 o'clock. The night signifies 9 o'clock...
The time flow is absolute. To signify the time is also absolute. As you obey the law of time, the pillar shall shine with blue light at 12... and you may catch a glimpse of eternal flow.
Book title: Excessive Power
Game: Wild Arms 2
Location: Crimson Castle
Foolish are the humans. They seek excessive power that will lead them down the path of destruction. They ignore the knowledge we have bequeathed them, and instead pursue errant ways.
They murder each other. They think only of destruction. Why? Why do they not realize their foolishness? Are they inferior creatures after all? Humans! Cease your destructive ways before it is too late!
Book title: The Monster Prison
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: Tarjon Village
The Forest Prison was built to isolate every monster from the outside world. However, there are a few monsters which the Forest Prison cannot contain. Those vicious monsters are known to be sealed off inside a prison called the "Abyss".
The Abyss, isolated on the northwestern island, is known to contain 100
chambers. Even the most vicious are unable to escape. Likewise, no one can penetrate the chambers.
As a means of communication, Elw's Shrine was once installed on the island, but is now broken and remains out of order.
Book title: The Guardians
Game: Wild Arms 2
Location: Crimson Castle
The Guardians are godlike beings who have protected Filgaia since ancient times. They are perhaps beyond the strength and abilities even of us Crimson Nobles.
They abandoned physical form to become pure consciousness. Their powers should have lasted forever. Yet at some point, the Guardians grew weak, and they ceased to interfere in events on Filgaia.
The power of the Guardians was the source of the consciousness and vigor of all who lived on Filgaia. Perhaps it was the humans' negative emotions that eroded and weakened the Guardians' powers.
Book title: Song of the Beginning
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: De La Metalica
Future of the world... Song of the beginning, song of life. Life is the future.
Life is a great treasure.
The future of the world, formed by many lives, seemed never-ending and nobody doubted it. Until 1000 years ago...
'Man... I need some sleep.' Rubbing my eyes, I jumped out into the sun. We came to Slayheim by carriage to cheer for Reese at the Violin Contest,
but...
'My internal clock is out of synch...' Marivel, wearing a costume, also got out of the carriage wobbling.
'Are you two all right?' Reese's deer-like eyes opened wide with concern.
'Ahh, I'm all right. Don't worry...' Marivel waved her hands slightly.
'You shouldn't have stayed up so late. Please try to at least keep awake when my turn comes around!'
'I told you not to worry...' You're not too convincing when you're about to get run over by a carriage, Marivel.
'This city is always so noisy. It never changes.' Reese frowned as he supported Marivel's back.
'My impression is a little different.' When I think about my mother who lives here, it pains my heart. It makes me want to ask why my mother abandoned us to live in this city.
'Really? There's nothing good here. I like Quartly a lot better.'
'Maybe so... Oh, is that the concert hall?'
'All right, let's go!' Seeing Reese's face shine, I smirked.
Shrugging my shoulders, I started to follow him when I noticed Marivel looking at me. 'What is it, Marivel?'
'Reese usually acts more mature than you, but it's the opposite today. That's why watching humans in their growth period is fun,' she said. I didn't know how to answer her, but I could predict the expression hidden under her costume. I hastened my feet.
After I explained it, Marivel put on a wry face. 'Isn't that too flashy a performance?'
'Doesn't it suit your taste, Marivel? All right, let's go with that plan.' Miss Anastasia said with a chuckle.
'I guess it will have to do. We have no time left either.'
'Okay, here we go!' We dashed out of the waiting room and ran towards the back row seats.
Securing some space on the spot, I took out the scores. Trying to remember my design drawings, I frantically fold the papers up.
'The lights turned on, Jack!' I caught Reese coming out at the corner of my eyes. He looked as scared as a sacrificial lamb.
'Marivel, Miss Anastasia, let it fly!'
'Leave it to me!!'
'Roger!' They started throwing the musical score airplaines one after another onto the stage! The white planes flew steadily up and then dived down onto the stage.
Reese startled for a second, picked them up and spread them open. The audience fell silent, not expecting such a sight. In the midst of the silent hall, Reese finished spreading all the scores and readied his violin. Tension ran through the hall. After a moment, a decorous tone flowed from the strings. Feeling eased, I fell back into the nearest seat.
'Sorry, Reese. It's probably my fault that you didn't get to win.' I apologized as the carriage clanked its wheels.
'Uh-uh. I'm happier for what you all did for me than getting an award. I'm really grateful.' Caressing the trophy he received as a special award, he moved his eye on to Marivel, sleeping quietly next to him,
and gently smiled.
'But...'
'Don't mention it. I'll make apple pie when we get home, so let's celebrate then.'
'That's a good idea. Let's send one to Miss Anastasia, too.'
Reese laughed at me as I recalled the taste of pie in my head.
'What's this? You're telling me that girl was kidnapped!?' Marivel's loud voice resounds through the quiet castle walls.
'On top of that, we were the ones that guided the kidnapper to the Bubka residence...'
'We didn't think a kidnap could happen in this town...' In our regular meeting room, Reese and I let out a big sigh.
'It's a heavy responsibility...'
'And besides, she's our classmate. We want to help her out somehow.'
Marivel looked at us amused. 'You don't have any hard feeling about the contest?'
'That doesn't matter!' Reese bristled and his face turned red. 'I don't like holding grudges for every little thing.'
'So, Marivel. This thug wants Violetta's big sis to carry the ransom to him.'
'That smells like a dangerous trap...'
'Doesn't it!? So we want to do something about it.'
'Hmmm...' Marivel, who had her right hand to her chin, looked up. There was a mischievous twinkle in both of her eyes.
'How about this? I'll go disguised as Violetta's sister to the exchange site. Then Red and Blue will come out and capture the culprit.'
'I can't let you do something that dangerous!'
'I think so too, Marivel. Please think it over...'
'There nothing to worry. Just believe in my powers.'
'I know how powerful you are, but what if something happens to you?'
'Aah, that is enough!!' Marivel stood up and banged the table. 'When I say it is all right, it is all right!'
As we walked home silently, our shadows were stretched long by the moonlight. 'Hey.'
'Say.' We're congenial friends that even say things simultaneously.
'You think so, too?'
'Of course I do. If we go with Marivel's plan, it'll
make us look like chickens.'
'You said it! All right!'
We planted ourselves down on a nearby tree stump. 'First, the kidnapper will probably underestimate us as kids so...' Under the half moon, our rescue plan meeting continued.
'Um... I brought the ransom money.' Just as we planned, we switched with Violetta's big sis and approached the culprit using our best girl voice.
We shifted the time up from the time we told Marivel. Even so, this skirt thingy is really hard to move. It's also because I'm hiding Canacan's matchet that we secretly borrowed.
'Good. Now hand over the money.'
'Wait!! Release my sister first!' Reese yelled with a trembling voice. He's quite an actor.
'Very well. Move it.' Violetta was shoved out and came running towards us, but stopped surprised recognizing who we were.
'Are you all right, Violetta!?'
As we trotted up to her, her eyes got even bigger. 'Y-Yes...but...'
(Just keep quiet and hide behind us!) Jeez, get with it will you... She's a girl so I guess we can't expect too much. As I thought to myself, the culprit
approached us, clanking his spurred boots.
'Okay, hand me the money now.'
'Y-Yes. Here it is.' Reese hands out the bag of money. I stealthily fingered the matchet through the hole I cut out inside the pocket.
'Ya know little missies, you look quite cute for being a daughter of Bubka's?' It's turning out just as we thought. I looked over and nodded at Reese. 'Ya'll will sell for a hefty price.'
Now!! I charged the back of the thug as he gleefully fondled Reese's chin. I took out the matchet at the same time and pinned it at him as he rolled on the ground.
'Huh!? You brat... What the hell!'
'Don't get any nearer than that... or else!!'
'Violetta, run away from here, now!!' Reese yelled as he got in front of her and covered her mouth.
'Okay! I'll call papa for help!!' Violetta gathered her courage and started for town.
'You stupid brats... How dare you ruin my master plan! You're gonna pay!!'
Wiping off his cut lip, he pulled out a knife and stood up. In the same motion, he came charging towards us!
No, I can't... I'm not ready to do something that might kill a man! It seems Reese had the same feeling as we both stood frozen with a naked blade in our hands. Like a slow-motion film, the oily face came closer and closer. Along with a great impact, we were knocked into the ground head first.
'That was a bad stunt you pulled, brat!' As my head spun around in circles, he pulled his knife up above his head. Darn it...!!
As I closed my eyes a familiar voice came into my ears. 'Qubeley!!' Simultanenously with the voice, the ground under the thug mounded up.
The giant metallic pillar that grew out of the ground opened its eyes. 'Hyaaa..!!' A strong shock wave flared from its body and it blew the culprit into the air. I was stunned at the sight.
I watched the culprit stagger away, looking all beat up.
'It looks like I made it just in time.' From behind the metallic pillar arrived Marivel in a jumpsuit, taking of a semi-cracked pair of goggles from her head.
'Marivel, what is this...?'
'It's an advanced golem that incorporates Red and Blue into a bigger and stronger frame. Its name is Qubeley (test type)].' After her explanation, she gave out a short command. Rumbling loudly, Qubeley dove into the ground again.
'If you've learned your lesson, you are to never leave me behind again.'
'Y-Yes, Marivel...' We sank our heads in dejection.
'You two were very brave though.' Marivel winked her eye and grinned.
'Really?'
'I am sure of it. Although it would've been better if we didn't let the culprit run away.'
'Marivel. You noticed it, too?'
'Well, I was just regretting that fact now...'
Then, we heard footsteps of several people approaching. Violetta and Mr. Bubka had brought the sheriff along.
When we told them that we lost the criminal, Mr. Bubka and the sheriff frowned for a moment, but Mr. Bubka took our hands and thanked us. 'You've saved my daughter, heedless of the danger. Thank you, thank you.' We could tell how much he was worried by his sweaty hands. Smiling a little, I looked behind me.
Violetta was standing in front of Marivel. 'I'm really sorry for... a lot of things.'
'Don't mind it. I acted a little immature as well.' Marivel smiled delicately. 'Next time, come to my castle, all three of you.' Parting with the words, "I'll be waiting," she swiftly disappeared.
Book title: Negative Emotions
Game: Wild Arms 2
Location: Crimson Castle
The "negative emotions" of humans are frightful indeed. Their hate, anger, envy, and impiety eroded the Guardians' power and drive human to kill human. In their mad rush down the path to destruction, they reveal their foolish, inferior nature.
Book title: The Future of the Three
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: De La Metalica
The future will be opened by life... But, the war that foreign lives caused,
left a serious scar for the future.
The Guardians and the planet weakened.
The Elw couldn't stand the changes, and moved to a hidden village.
Only the humans remain. However, humans closed their minds, and the future was no longer shining.
Book title: The Encroaching Parallel Universe
Game: Wild Arms 2
Location: Crimson Castle
The universe of the Dragons is said to have been completely devoured by another universe. Could one universe truly devour another universe, and reduce it to nothingness? How could we resist this peril if it attacked our universe?
Even the mighty Dragons fled when the Peril attacked their world. Not even the once-powerful Guardians could assure our safety. For how can one fight -- to say nothing of defeat -- a universe?
Book title: Two Worlds, Conflicted Lives
Game: Wild Arms Alter Code: F
Location: De La Metalica
The world is not alone. There is another world, foreign from ours. One we do not know...
Encountering alien life created friction, and led to the war to end the future. And it was the violent, sad conflict of lives.
Book title: The Organo-Mechanical Beings
Game: Wild Arms 2
Location: Crimson Castle
On Filgaia there is a unique species that differs from all others on this planet. They are the Dragons, a fusion of machine and living flesh. They defy traditional definitions of life. The Dragons are dissimilar to the Golems we created. They must be the product of some unknown technology.
These intelligent beings claim to have come from a dimension beyond Filgaia. Such a feat is beyond even our own powers. No one knows the full extent of their powers. But the Dragons, unable to adapt to Filgaia's environment, eventually disappeared.
It was the second day since we had left the Abbey. We had left the main road when we reached the hills, and continued on a hillpath. The rock was crumbling in places, but Lourie and Ayashe skillfully climbed up the crags. I was impressed as I watched them. Ayashe looked back at me inquisitively. I immediately looked away, but I still saw Ayashe's hurt facial expression... I hadn't come to terms with the crime that I committed in my own world.
After a while, we were halfway up the mountain. There was a terrace-like place here, very suitable for enjoying the view. "It's a wonderful view, Sir." Ayashe held on to my arm.
Without thinking, I shrank from her... The touch of her live flesh was almost painful. "...Why don't we take a little break?"
Lourie, seeing the situation, immediately said, "Sure."
I forced a smile on my face while I gently removed Ayashe's fingers from my arm. I sat down on a rock. The sunshine was filtered by young leaves, and I breathed in the earthy scent of soil. A green butterfly cut in front of my eyes. (It's a peaceful world.) I sighed to myself.
"Sir." Ayashe sat down next to me.
"What?" I turned to see Ayashe smiled sadly.
"Why don't you look at my face?" Ayashe brought her face close to mine. "My grandfather taught me that people who speak without making eye contact cannot be trusted. Can you be trusted?"
I blinked since her face was so close. Her short hair smelled like hay. "I can't say that I'm a trustworthy person."
Ayashe smiled a little at my words. "My grandfather also said I cannot trust a person who says they are trustworthy. Does the opposite apply?"
"I see."
Her laughter eased my tension.
"...Don't move." I brushed a small leaf from her hair; Ayashe blushed bashfully and said thank you in her small voice. When I replied back with a welcome, her shell-like ears turned bright red.
I heaved a sigh of relief at her manners. Somehow I came to accept that Ayashe was not... that... girl.
"Sir, look at that mountain." I turned to where she was pointing. I saw a faint blue mountain range, that looked as if it were framed by the acacia branches. The snowcapped range danced in the light. "The dragon's heart must have such color."
I knitted my brow at the unfamiliar term. "What? What is the dragon's heart?"
"It's the treasure of the people of Pillar, a holy item that improves the bonds between the gods and humans. ...Many generations ago, a shaman took it and ran away with it."
"...Shaman?" I cocked my head to the side at the new term.
"There are different castes among the people of Pillar; shaman is one of them... They were unhappy with the way that other people of Pillar treated them. They were banished a few generations ago."
"I see." (Wherever you go, humans are the same.) I rack my brains for something to say. After a deep, long breath of cool air, I turned to Ayashe. But suddenly, her face drained of all color.
"Lourie," Ayashe's voice was tense.
Lourie hurried to get in front of me. "It's a hunting dog."
The other side of the road was warped like an image projected on a concave mirror. I heard a sound like that of air leaking out, and a sound like someone dragging a wet bag, from in front of Lourie.
The smell of rotten meat hung in the air. It was unlike anything I'd ever smelled before.
