Let's explore the Phantom Land in Dragon Quest VI!

Welcome to my first console Let's Play, second screenshot LP, and eleventh LP overall. But what game will we be covering, you may ask? None other than...



♪Overture♪

Dragon Quest VI (with the subtitle Maboroshi no Daichi, literally The Phantom Land, in the original Japanese) is the sixth in the Dragon Quest series, the last of the Zenithian trilogy. It was one of the two DQ games that was never released in the US until after the Square/Enix merger, and unlike DQ5, never received any kind of remake until the Zenithian trilogy was rereleased for the DS. Due to this, it has probably the least Internet coverage out of the pre-merger heptalogy. Despite this, or possibly even because of it, I have a liking for it, which is why I've decided to LP it here. Specifically, I'll be covering the original SFC version with NoPrgress' translation patch.

Before we start, a disclaimer. First of all, I have very little love for the post-merger localizations of the Dragon Quest series, so I will most likely take some potshots at it, and they will not be good-natured. If you have a problem with this, don't say I didn't warn you. It should also be noted that although I'm starting a new LP, I won't abandon the Odyssey one until all of WallyHackenslacker's analyses have been posted. So don't worry about that.

Anyway, now for a bit of viewer participation.



As you can probably tell by his spiky blue hair, this handsome lad is our hero. But what's his name?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Act 1: The War with Mudo

• The Final Battle
• Setting Out
• Down to the Market
• Nowhere Man
• Spirit in the Night
• A New Departure
• Not-So-Basic Training
• Horsing Around
• Home Improvement
• Return to the Phantom World
• The Phantom of the (Soap) Opera
• Pearl-Colored Liquid
• Lazy Poker Blues
• The Royal Scam
• Eien ni Amoru
• Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
• Stranger in the Mirror
• Sidequest for Glory
• Turning Point (Part I)
• Turning Point (Part II)
• Peace is Just a Dream
• Across the Border
• Through the Fire and Flames
• Decisive Battle! Mudo's Castle

Act 2: Exploring the Worlds

• Come Sail Away With Me
• The Beast Within
• A Rival Appears! (Part I)
• A Rival Appears! (Part II)

Bonus updates

• In Thy Task Thou Hast Failed
• Fun with Falshion
• Class Is In Session

Roku!

+1. Brilliant.

I ... shit, I can't top that.

I mean, Bloku? Bluko? Buru? SSGSSJ Loto?

I think think I like Roku the best for some reason.

Trunks

♪Save Data♪

By a vote of three to one (sorry, Torzelbaum), it looks like our hero's name will be...



And with that, let's begin our story.





♪(ambient cricket sounds)♪

Classic RPG begininning #934, although it isn't around a campfire in most cases. We're obviously starting this one in media res. There's no real consequence to this choice, so might as well go with "yes".



Girl: I wonder where he's gone... It's been a while.

This cues...



...the arrival of a rather buff man with a distinctive purple mohawk.



Macho man: I just looked around and I know that must be the castle. (faces Roku) Maybe we should go soon. We've had enough rest.
Girl: (stands up) Yeah. We won't accomplish anything if we stay here. We have traveled far for this, right?
Macho man: (approaches Roku) Let's go, Roku! We must destroy the demon king! Let's fight like our lives depend on it. (walks off-screen)
Girl: (approaches Roku) If we can win this battle, peace will return to the world. Are you ready, Roku? Let's go. (walks off-screen)
(Roku picks up his sword, puts it on his back, and faces north)



We're in control now, and it looks like Roku and his buddies are already heading towards the final battle. Pretty short game, but at least it has nice graphics for its time.





As a side note, it's possible to put out the campfire by examining it. Let's be responsible campers and do so.



♪Pegasus♪

Following Roku's companions north leads to a section of the forest with rather ominous music, but no monsters.



Appropriately enough for what's obviously the final area, a perpetual storm rages in the skies. Although you can't tell from a static screenshot, there are even lightning flashes among the clouds. Our companions are also here, so let's talk to them.

Macho man: Mudo's castle is below this cliff. We cannot turn back now.

Presumably this Mudo is the final boss.

Girl: Here we go... If the legend is true, this flute should...







♪Ocarina♪

She heads to the edge of the cliff, pulls out an ocarina, tosses it into the air for some reason, and plays a strange tune on it. By the way, the game actually has an animation specifically for her playing the ocarina, which I think is a nice touch.



♪Castle♪

Apparently, the song she played summons a giant dragon.





Fortunately, he's a friendly dragon, and gives us a ride to Mudo's castle. Pretty small-looking for a final dungeon, but I'm sure there are some tricks up its proverbial sleeves.



♪Frightening Dungeon♪

The interior looks nice, at least, and the music is pretty awesome, too. Let's see what our companions have to say.

Girl: Lead the way, Roku.
Macho man: I can smell monsters in this castle...



Despite what the macho man has to say, there are no random encounters here, and it's a pretty linear path. There are two doors in the initial room, but they're both locked. By the way, you might have noticed that he and the girl are now following Roku in typical DQ party fashion.



The storm outside is still in full force, and the lightning flashes create a neat little visual effect inside the castle that I wish I could show off better than this.



After passing through this rather impressive chamber...



...we're on the castle's roof, almost certainly a sign that we're getting close to the end. Those ominous fog clouds are another cool effect, cycling in and out about once a second. I'm also pretty sure that they're a reused asset from Soul Blazer. Back to the topic at hand, at the end of the walkway is a door. When Roku approaches it...



(The party separates)
Girl: Surely, the demon king Mudo waits eagerly beyond this door.

...Eagerly? Odd choice of words there.



It really does, so I'll say so.

Macho man: Getting into this castle was too easy... Let's not waste time thinking about it. Roku! Let's go!
(The party reassembles)

We can head through the door now, but what lies beyond?



To start with, some sort of psychedelic void.

♪Satan's Castle♪

As soon as we enter the throne room, our companions have some things to say.

Girl: What's going on in here?
Macho man: I can't see anything... Whoa!
(Roku and his companions start floating in place)



I don't know who's saying this, which is why I screenshotted it.



Eventually, the companions are pulled toward the throne...



...and Mudo appears.



Mudo: How could you even dream of beating me?



He separates the group and tosses them around the room until they turn greyscale.



Then his eyes glow, complete with the classic Dragon Quest spellcasting sound effect...



...and the girl explodes!





He repeats the process for the macho man, and then for Roku himself. There's a flash, and then the screen fades to black...

???: Ahhh! Brother! Are you all right?



In order to proceed, you have to actually press a direction in order to move.

Tania: Don't scare me like that!



Yes, that entire prologue section was just a dream. IRL, when I wake up from a nightmare like that, my usual feeling is relief that it wasn't real, so I'll say that I'm okay.

Tania: Oh, yeah. The village elder came to see you earlier. I told him that you were sleeping. He said he'd be back.

And with this, we've got Standard JRPG Opening Quest Hook #231. However, we're already at nearly half the image limit for the second post of this update, so we'll check that our later, as well as exploring the village and checking out Roku's stats. Until then!

One of your image tags is broken: you left out the /.

I'm afraid I don't get the "Roku" reference. Something to do with Goku?

Roku is the japanese word for the number six.

Makes sense. Thanks!

This game is very beautiful.

There's no shame in losing to Roku. Either way it's fitting to have a pun as the main characeters' name.

And he look like a Goku.

I can't believe I didn't realize that! I guess that Goku was really on my mind, based on his appearance.

Last time, Roku woke up from a dream wherein he was turned to stone and exploded by the demon king Mudo, and his sister Tania told him that the elder wanted to see him. Before that, though, we'll be exploring this village, and before that, let's take a look at Roku's stats.



Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, except for Style. In the Japanese version, it's something like "coolness," and its only real use AFAIK is for a subquest much later in the game. He also knows a single spell - Recall. As for how it works, let's let the game explain it.



you can memorize what they are saying by pressing the blue button. To forget a conversation, press the green button while remembering it.

The "blue" and "green" buttons are, of course, X and Y, or Control and Shift in the emulator I'm using. Later, Roku will learn other spells based on this system, which will probably be helpful later. Anyway, now to explore the village...



...and what better place to start than Roku's own house? The pot contains 10 gold, and the lower right barrel contains an Agility Seed.



The Agility Seed will permanently increase the user's Agility by 1-3 points. Like in most RPGs, it's generally a good idea to use these on the main character, since he's most likely always going to be in the party.



And, luckily enough, I got the highest possible boost! I probably won't try to min-max other seeds, but this was a pretty auspicious start.





♪In the Town♪

And, with that, it's time to step out into the village. On doing so, a flash of sunlight covers the screen, and a flock of birds fly away before the town music starts, which is a nice touch. Here's what the people on the streets have to say.





Maybe he wanted to talk to you about the village festival.

A festival? If this is like other JRPGs, something is probably going to go down there.



Woman in apron: What? The elder's house? You must still be asleep. His house is at the top of the cliff behind the church.
Old woman: Roku's little sister, Tania, is growing up. She is, and will be, very beautiful.



Don't worry. Our village is protected by the spirit of the mountain. Roku, remember to appreciate the spirit at all times.

So Mudo wasn't just a dream, then. Good to know... I guess.



Farmer: Every year, the king of Reidock goes to the bazaar. Perhaps, I should go there too.
Cow: Mooo.

The barrel in the cow shed contains a Defense Seed, which is a permanent 3-5 point defense boost. This one boosts Roku's defense by 5. The RNG is certainly being kind to me, which makes me both happy and a bit suspicious.



Old man: I'm having trouble seeing nearby things. I am getting old...
Man: Our village is at the top of a mountain and does not have much to offer. But our traditional goods are as good as those made in larger cities. The women spin silk and the men make tools for carving wood. Our goods are famous at bazaars even far to the south

The bit about "tools for carving wood" is a mistranslation - it should say "wood carvings" or something along those lines. Also, there's another reference to a bazaar. No prizes for guessing that it'll be important soon.

Old woman: No, no, no. That is not the way to make good silk!
Young woman: Ahh, I did it again. I wonder if I could ever make beautiful silk...



On the way out of the weaving shop, I found some more money in this barrel.



When we try to talk to this kid, he runs away.



Fortunately, he doesn't go far, and now we have a name for this little mountain town. I wonder if it's in a sister-city program with Deathtrout and Lovecarp?



Old man: The village elder told me that I could not go down the mountain anymore.
Masked man: Grandpa? Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed? You're the one who goes down the mountain every year to sell our goods.
Woman behind counter: Welcome, Roku. I heard that Tania is going to be the star in the play this year. Rand is really looking forward to seeing the play. He really likes Tania.

Rand will probably be important later, since he has a name and he apparently likes Roku's little sister. The southern barrel contains 3 gold.



Man: Hey, Roku. Did you come to see Rand? He must be wandering around the cliff to the south. He never works anymore.



Masked man: Hello, Roku. The village elder was looking for you. Why don't you wait to go shopping until you meet with him.

That suit of armor looks obviously important, but if we check it...



However, there probably will be a way to get it later...



♪The Saint (organ)♪

Priest: Welcome to the House of Healing. What can I do for you?

With this, he offers the standard Dragon Quest church options - Record Adventure, Exp Needed, Revive, and Cure Poison.

Nun: It is said that the spirit crown holds the power of the mountain spirits. Each year, we give the crown to the statue of the goddess. Then we pray for peace for the following year.

I guess that changing "God" to "the goddess" wasn't always just a fabrication by the butchers behind the new-style localizations. Good to know. Anyway, that's everywhere explored, so now to visit the elder.



We're on the right path, at least.



But before we actually go in, there are a couple of villagers to talk to here.

Man in red: Where do people come from and where do they go... Since I have been here, I no longer know. This is what the king of Reidock once said. It is very philosophical.
Farmer: Roku, the village elder is inside.

Of the three pots nearby, the upper-right one contains a Medical Herb



Although we're officially here to see the elder, it's always a good idea to do the story-progressing elements last. So let's talk to the woman in the room to the right first.

Judy: The festival is soon. I hope that Rand has a present for me. He told me he would give me a carved wooden pendant.

Ooh, looks like we have a love triangle in the making! That being established, it's time to proceed with the story. Based on what the NPCs have said, you can probably piece together what the Elder is going to ask of us, but here it is.



Elder: Did you know that the products from our village sell at high prices?

This comes with a yes/no prompt. We've been told that, so we'll say yes.

Elder: We use that money to buy the crown for the village festival... I would like you to buy the crown this year. It is a rough journey down to the town. I am sure you will make it. I have these wood carving tools wood carvings and rolls of silk for you to sell. Will you do this for us, Roku?

It's an opportunity to see the world outside Lifecod, which could be fun, and even if it didn't, it's a "But Thou Must!" moment, so... yes.

Elder: Then I will give you our goods.



In addition to the goods, you also get to keep the bag, which acts as an extra inventory page - always nice to have!

Elder: Go down the mountain and south to the town of Shiena. Good luck!

The left pot contains an Antidote Herb. More importantly, some of the townsfolk have new dialogue now that we've spoken with the elder.

Tania: Oh, brother, welcome home. What did the village elder want? Wow, you're going to get the spirit crown? That's great! I'm a little worried, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Please be careful.
Farmer outside elder's house: We owe our peaceful life to the mountain spirit. We must be thankful.
Woman in apron: Hello, Roku. It looks like we're going to have good weather today.
Man in red: Did you see the armor in the window of that store?

This is followed by a yes/no prompt. Either response will give the response "I would look great in it..."





Speaking of shops, they're now open, but there's not much Roku can afford. I can at least afford a Bamboo Spear, which has three more attack power and one more point of Style than the Cypress Stick Roku starts with. I also sell the stick itself for a cool 7 GP.



♪Another World♪

With no further business in town, it's time to head out on our mission. That thing to the south may look like a broken bridge, but it's actually stairs built into the cliff, marking the entrance to our first dungeon.



The overworld theme continues playing here. Other than that, there's not much to this place...



♪Courageous Fight♪

...but not long after entering, we enter our first battle! Furrats and Mandrakes are both pretty much harmless, but the latter have a technique called Entice Dance, which can cause one party member to lose a turn. In addition, both monsters can drop Medical Herbs. As for Roku, all he can really do at this point is attack normally.





Although that's enough to take out these losers.



Based on what I've heard in the village, this is probably Rand.



Rand has an animation of stretching and standing after this line.

Rand: There aren't many monsters around here, so I was taking a nap.

That's funny, seeing as I had two encounters on the way here. Guess Roku gives off some sort of monster pheromones.

Rand: Don't tell my dad. He'd nag me to work. I heard that Tania is going to be the star of the festival, right? Would you tell her I'm looking forward to seeing her in the festival?

Sure, once I've made sure that there can be a festival for her to be the star of. Before that, though, some offscreen grinding for money to buy better equipment.





And, of course, the levels gained are a nice little added benefit.



Fortunately, Roku can sleep for free in his house, meaning that I don't have to use my hard-stolen Medical Herb yet. At level 4, he learns Heal, which means I can spend more time in the field, so it doesn't take long. Eventually, Roku is at level 6, with all the best gear Lifecod has to offer. To compare:



These are Roku's stats before grinding...



...and after.

He's also learned Identify, a spell which can be used to get information on items and equipment, such as their offensive and defensive capabilities and other properties they might have. For example, here's the Identify report for the Copper Sword that Roku is currently wielding.



This item cannot be used during battle. This can be equipped. Roku can use it. It can be sold for 202 gold.

Anyway, let's tackle the mountain pass for real!



Shortly after entering, we encounter a new monster - the Spotted Slime. I think that this is the only Dragon Quarrior game where normal Slimes aren't found in the newbie area, unless you count Alena's chapter in DWIV. Anyway, there's not much to say about Spotted Slimes, other than the fact that they're weaker than their solid-colored brethren, and also slightly cuter, IMHO.



Just below the place where Rand was napping is a fork in the road.



To the left is a dead end with three graves. I can't remember if this is ever explained later.



♪Dungeons♪

The right, on the other hand, leads to a cave entrance.



The cave introduces two new monsters. Neither of them really has anything that makes them stand out, though.



Not far from the entrance is a chest containing 20 gold.



And a bit further in is a flight of stairs leading downward...

...to another flight of stairs.



Thankfully, this path is pretty linear.



♪Another World♪

It leads back to the mountain's exterior, below the fork in the road. As you can see, there are two staircases just to the south.



The one on the right just leads to an empty cave, but the one on the left leads to another staircase down and a cave entrance.



♪Dungeons♪

The cave contains an inn, conveniently enough. Let's just hope that this cave inn doesn't have any cave-ins.



♪Another World♪

And the stairs lead to the exit from the mountain. There are some chests I skipped, but they don't contain anything important - just a Medical Herb and some equipment outclassed by the stuff I did all that grinding for.



According to this sign, we're on the right path



And this must be Shiena.



♪In the Town♪

The church is conveniently located near the entrance, making this a good place to save and quit. Join me next time as we sell the village goods and get the spirit crown!

FYI, the URL is missing from this.

That seems to be the case with most JRPG heroes.

The Gray Bat looks like it's about to bat-hand you and is that hole on the Cave Worm what I think it is?

I always liked 6's overworld battle scenes with the cliffs. The ominous star in the sky too.

I fixed it, but if you don't want to scroll back up, here's a direct link, since it really is one of the better random-encounter tracks out there, IMHO.

I think that the Gray Bat is supposed to be doing that archetypical vampire cape thingy with its wings. As for the Cave Worm, I think that the hole is what you think it is if you think it is what I think it is.

It really does look nice. I'd always thought of that thing in the sky as the sun, but it does seem a bit too small for that, now that you mention it.

That being said, here's the update proper. Last time, we arrived in the market town of Shiena, so today we'll be exploring it.



♪In the Town♪

Our tour of Shiena begins in the local church, which is fancier than the one in Lifecod and run by a nun instead of a priest. There's not much else to it, though, so let's head out and see what the local NPCs have to say.



I hope you will find something nice to buy.

So do I, lady. So do I.



The woman behind the counter just uses canned dialogue, but the merchant?



Maybe that is why the king of Reidock did not come. The world is a dangerous place.

Unfortunately, the yellow door is locked, so let's move on.



Welcome to my item store. What do you want?



The Thief's Key looks interesting, but since I'm 410 GP short I'll have to pass for now.





There may be other stores that have the same item for less. If you want the best price you have to do a little walking. This is the same when you are selling an item. Remember that.

The kid doesn't have anything important to say, but the man does. His advice was definitely the case in my previous LP, but I'm not sure if it applies here.





Now to explore Shiena's famous bazaar. Most of the people here are trying to sell stuff, as you may expect, but here's what they have to say.



I heard that a powerful sorcerer lives far from here...... But I think that people who try to deceive are worse than sorcerers.



He's selling a Leather Shield, but for 45 GP more than the one I already bought in Lifecod.



This is a map of the world! It'll make your journey so much easier. For you, only 3000 gold. No, no. How about 2000. Will you buy one?

Bad news: I don't have that much, and even I don't have the patience to grind that long. Good news: It's possible to haggle him down to 200 gold by repeatedly refusing. Bad news: I don't have 200 gold. I'll have to come back later.



If you buy now, six medical herbs and one fairy water are 50 gold.

That is a pretty good deal, so I'll take it. If you didn't already know, Fairy Water reduces the encounter rate.



I have sold everything in my store. Don't ask me what I have sold. If you do, you will want them! Well, I am closed. What? You are lucky, my friend! I do have one item left. Because this is the only one I will sell it for 100 gold. What do you think?

The item in question is a Pot Lid, the weakest shield in the game. I think I know why he wasn't able to sell it.



Usually I sell them for 230 gold apiece, but for you only 200 gold! Come on, come on! 200 gold! You will buy one won't you?

The "good thing" is a Leather Armor, only slightly less overpriced than the Leather Shield the old man was selling.



Woman in red: Did you know the king of Reidock is very cute?
Old man: The king of Reidock didn't come to the bazaar this year. Is that possible?



Just north of the bazaar are a weapon shop with the same stuff as Lifecod plus Clubs, and an item shop selling Medical Herbs, Antidote Herbs, and Wings of the Wyvern.





And to the northwest is a flight of stairs leading down to the local bank. Like in all DQ games, you lose half your money when you die, but if you put it in the bank it's protected. Unfortunately, they only deal in 1000 gold increments, and I don't even have close to that much. Still, might come in handy later.



Screw you too, asshole.

Now that we've explored Shiena, it's time to get down to our reason for coming here. There are three merchants willing to buy the village goods, who I deliberately avoided speaking to until now.



Do you have anything to sell? Silk and wood carving tools wood carvings? I can offer you 350 gold for those.



Doga: What do you have? Silk and wood carving tools wood carvings? Can I offer you 300 gold for those?



Boga: Silk and wood carving tools wood carvings? I can offer you 330 gold? Will you sell?

Based on this, it might seem like the woman in red is offering the best deal.
However, if you refuse Boga's offer and talk to Doga again...



Doga: Then I will offer you 360 gold! You will sell them, won't you?

...he'll make a better offer than either Boga or the woman. What's more...

...you can repeat this...









...until you get offers of 450 from Boga or 480 from Doga.







Although Doga offers the most, I prefer to sell to Boga because he's a bit nicer than his brother and 30 gold isn't that much of a difference. Now that I think about it, this whole haggling sequence have been what that guy earlier was hinting at.

At any rate, now that we've got the gold for the village goods, we can get the spirit crown...





... although this might pose a problem. Let's see if we can get some more information from his daughter.



Usually, they send an older man. You want the spirit crown, right? I'm sorry. This year my father couldn't find any good wood to carve with. So he went to the forest across the bridge west of town. He's been gone for three days. I'm starting to worry.

At least now we know where to look for him.



♪Another World♪

Presumably this is the bridge in question. As every DQ fan knows, bridges mean stronger monsters, but I'm ready.



Believe it or not, this is our first encounter since leaving the pass from Lifecod. Squires don't have any special abilities, but they do have pretty good defense, as their big shields imply. They also have a chance of dropping Leather Shields.



I wonder if this huge gaping hole in the ground has something to do with the crown maker going missing?



If nothing else, it has its own field map, so that's probably significant.



That must be the crown maker.



I am Bilte. I make crowns. Please help me!

This is another yes/no decision, but there's no reason not to. When you do help him, though...











...Roku manages to pull Bilte out of the hole, but falls in himself.

My thoughts exactly, Bilte.



♪Through the Fields♪

At the bottom of the hole is a new world with a more upbeat overworld theme. However, Roku has become strangely desaturated. What could be happening here? Find out next time on Dragon Quest VI.

Today marks the end of the Heisei era and the beginning of the Reiwa era. So what better way to observe it than with an LP update?



As you may recall, previously our hero Roku fell into what appears to be a new world. He looks a bit paler than normal here, but that probably isn't important. As you can see, there's a town nearby, so let's get some information.



♪In the Town♪

Or not. Apparently no one here can see Roku.



It must have been the wind.

However, he is apparently able to make his presence slightly known, which might be useful.



One benefit of Roku's current condition is that the local inn is free.





Soldier: Huh? I thought I heard something...
(He turns towards the bartender)
Soldier: Hey bartender! Did you say something?
Bartender: What are you talking about?
Soldier: Nevermind...



This pot contains a Nut of Life, which increases maximum HP. This one increased Roku's by 6.



Unfortunately, shopping secretly isn't quite as easily as resting secretly. Which is to say, I can't do it.





I think you know which one I picked. Unfortunately, the response is pretty disappointing.

...Please answer me. I've been faithful.



Children usually know some things that adults don't, so let's see if the kid has anything to say.



That might be useful to know, but let's see what everyone else in this town has to say when they think no one is listening. By the way, I like the little loft-type area here.



Perhaps this is how the demon king plans to destroy the world.

Looks like there's a demon king in this world too. Not entirely surprising, I admit.



How can a mirror reflect anything other than what's already there? I wonder what my wife would look like in that mirror...

That mirror he mentioned will probably come up later. Speaking of his wife...



How inconsiderate...

I can relate. At least my relatives who smoke are considerate enough to do so outside, but the smell still lingers. By the way, the man actually is blowing smoke rings - another neat little bit of attention to detail.





At least this dog can notice Roku...



What a strange dog... Come with me.



...unlike his human.



Her dresser contains a Beauty Plant, which increases the user's Style by 1. I'm probably going to use it on Roku, but I'm not entirely sure.



This must be the well that the kid mentioned earlier. Now that I've "talked" to everyone else with anything interesting to say, let's talk to these two kids.

Jimmy: Ahh... I'm tired of playing at this well.
Carol: I agree. Next time we should go north and play at the well of dreams.
Jimmy: But that's wrong. Momma would never let us.
Carol: You don't want to? Are you scared?
Jimmy: They say people don't return from that place.
Carol: Jimmy, you coward... That's just a lie.

As everyone knows, all rumors in JRPGs are true, and places that people don't return from are great for adventuring. So on to the well of dreams!



♪Through the Fields♪

One uneventful overland journey later, Roku arrives at a small hut. Could this be where the well of dreams lies?



Right as I moved onto the tile for the hut, I was attacked by a swarm of Slimes. Six Slimes means six times the danger...



...but six times zero is still zero.



♪Inviting Village♪

Not gonna lie, this music doesn't sound as inviting as the title suggests...

As every JRPG protagonist knows, "Do not enter!!" means "Come on in! We've been expecting you!"



I'm not sure what a well of dreams looks like, but it's probably that. By the way, you can examine any well to enter them, but most of them don't have anything of note.





This one, however, does. If we choose to investigate...



...we're transported to this well.



♪Another World♪

And based on the music, we're back in our world. Now to head back to Shiena to see how Bilte's doing.



Another new monster! Lipps can use a technique called Spin Lick to make Roku lose a turn and have a 1/64 chance of dropping Fairy Water. Other than that, they aren't much of a threat. The rest of the journey is uneventful, so we'll cut to Bilte's house.



♪In the Town♪

Bilte: I am making a crown for a young man that gave his life for me......



Bilte: Oh! Oh! You! Great! You're alive! It would be tragic if you had died for an old man like me to live. You want the spirit crown, right? There, I have just finished it!



Bilte: I'm not going to take any money from he who saved my life. I'm sure the people of your village await for your return.

I'm sure they do, too. However, this seems like a good place to end the update, so until next time, Dragon Questers.

It's been a long time, but let's get back to Dragon Quest VI. Last time, you may recall that we got the Spirit Crown from Bilte after a brief excursion in to what is presumably the subtitular Phantom Land. Today, we'll actually get it to Lifecod for the festival... after doing a few things.

First, since the crown was free, that means that the 450 gold I got for the village goods is pure profit. So that means there are a few things to buy.



First of all, the world map that I mentioned earlier.



You can easily view it just by pressing the R button.

Incidentally, there is a little quirk to it that I'll show off soon. First, though, there's another item to buy.



You may recall that this merchant was selling a Thief's Key for the low, low price of 470 G. Now that I have 398, plus some outdated equipment I found in the Phantom Land, I should be able to afford it.



It cost me almost all of my money, but it was worth it. Now I can open certain locked doors. Conveniently enough, there are some right here in Shiena!



This cabinet in the inn contains a Scale Shield, which is superior to the Leather one that Roku is currently rocking.



The vault of the bank has a chest containing 250 gold and a pot containing a Wing of the Wyvern, which can be used to return to any town that Roku has previously visited. Finally, some of the people in Shiena have new dialogue, as follows:

Woman at entrance: Welcome to Shiena. The bazaar is almost done.
Boy: My father is good at business. He sold a lot of pot lids this year!
Woman at table: Did you know that the king of Reidock is very young and handsome... He also likes shopping. If we ever met, we would get along so well......
Arts and crafts woman: This store purchases goods. Do you have something to sell?
Doga: This year's bazzar (sic) was quite profitable. Surprisingly, I may have made more than Boga!
Boga: The bazaar is almost over. I wonder how much profit Doga made...
Young man outside Bilte's house: Good, good! The crown maker has returned.

Now, to show off the quirk with the map that I alluded to.



This is what it normally looks like. The feather indicates Roku's current location.





However, it doesn't appear at all in the other world. How strange, indeed. However, now that we've finished our mission, we have a festival to attend!



Looks like Rand isn't here anymore. Probably went back to the village, which is where Roku should be going.



Looks like the sun is starting to set.



As soon as Roku enters the town, the elder approaches him.



Elder: Did you get the spirit crown?







I'd say that falling into a mysterious world where no one is aware of my existence counts as a problem... so, yes.



Thanks for your concern, Elder. But yeah, let's prepare for the festival! The people of Lifecod also have new dialogue, as follows.



Farmer: I (sic) so excited! It's finally time for the festival!
Man: Hey Roku! How was your trip? I expect you're a little tired. You may want to rest before tonight.
Judy: Can't you see I'm busy helping prepare for the festival? I'm the daughter of the elder. I shouldn't have to do this.



Masked man: Good, good... We will feast tonight!
Woman behind counter: Can't you see I'm busy preparing tonight's feast?
Old man: Hmmm. Roku... Perhaps it is time for me to retire. It seems that you can handle it. I've heard that you've seen the phantom world. Don't worry. I believe you.

Interesting - someone else who knows about the phantom world. I wonder if he's also been there?



Rand: I promised to carve a pendant for Judy, and there isn't any more time. Maybe she won't remember. Besides, I love Tania. Do you think she feels the same about me?
(Yes) - Rand: Thank you. I'll make her happy.
(No) - Rand: Hey, hey, hey. That's not how I see it. Are you kidding?

• (Yes) - Rand: I can't wait to see her...
• (No) - Rand: Thank you. I'll make her happy.

I bet the bazaar was crowded. Did you get to meet the king of Reidock?
(Yes) - I'm so jealous.
(No) - What? The king of Reidock didn't come this year? That's too bad.



Tonight we will finally have our festival. Your sister Tania will give the spirit crown to the goddess. How exciting.



Nothing special here, I just wanted to show off the mountain view at sunset.



You can see her then. Just be patient.

Now that we've talked to everyone with new dialogue, let's head back home.



Do you want to relax before the festival?

The festival won't start until you rest, so might as well say yes.

Now well-rested, Roku heads out to the festival.



Rand leads Roku over to the area where the other townsfolk have gathered.





After this line, the camera pans up to the elder's house.



A boy holding a torch steps out...



...followed by the elder...



...and then Tania, in full festival regalia.

♪Saint's Wreath♪



And then, the procession begins.







After the procession, everyone heads into the church.





Priest: For all you've done over the past year, we bring you a gift.







Priest: Through this statue we ask for another year of your blessings.





As another nice little bit of sprite animation, the priest jumps up to place the crown on the statue.



Tania: Until next year, let there be peace.

She then walks up to Roku but...



At this moment, the music suddenly stops.





Spirit: Roku... For you, a mysterious destiny awaits. Soon the world will fall into darkness. You must prepare for that time... And learn of your true identity... Roku, embark upon this journey. That is your mission...

The spirit then vanishes in the same way she appeared.



Tania: I'm so dizzy, and warm.



Old man: I think I wet myself...
Priest: Everybody, calm down! Anyway, Tania, thank you again.
Tania: Yes, but...
(She leaves the church)
Priest: That concludes our ceremony. Everyone enjoy the rest of the night!

And with this, we gain back control. Naturally, the festival has new dialogue, and I'm going to show it off, starting with the priest since he's right here.



Priest: The ceremony this year seemed to take forever. I've been doing this for such a long time. Roku, you should celebrate with the others.

Don't mind if I do!

♪Folk Dance♪

As you may expect, the villagers have new dialogue for the festival, so here we go.

Masked man: This is a great party. Drink up! Hic!
Woman: How can I celebrate while the demon king is conquering the world?
Old man: Oh, Roku. It's been a long time since I've heard about the phantom world. Surely this is somehow related to you seeing the mountain spirit.

I wouldn't be surprised. And what was with that thing about my "real identity," anyway? By the way, sometimes after you talk to someone, there's a burst of fireworks, during which you can't do anything. It's a nice effect, but kind of annoying.



These people are dancing in a circle around the bonfire. Clockwise from the masked man...

Masked man: Hic! I keep tripping over my own feet.
Young woman 1: Dance with us!
Farmer 1: Wa ha ha! This festival is great!
Old man: Ungh...
Man: Dance! Dance!
Young woman 2: Dance with us!
Farmer 2: Wa ha ha! This festival is great!
Woman: And spin! I think I'm learning!



The elder wants to speak to you about the vision you had.

Maybe he does, but there are still some people to talk to.









(Yes) - Oh, you're not a good dancer? Do you want to learn the Foribidden (sic) dance?

• (Yes) - Just kidding! Ha ha ha! Roku, you're such a pervert.
• (No) - That's too bad.

(No) - I like dancing.

If I'm not mistaken, this is Rand's mother. And she offers, even jokingly, to teach her son's friend the "forbidden dance." O...K. Anyway, now that we've spoken to everyone, we can visit the elder. But there is one more optional scene before that.



Psst, Roku! Over here!

He pulls Roku behind a tree...



...to listen to a conversation between Rand and Tania.



Rand: Will you marry me?
(Tania turns away)
Tania: ......I'm sorry. After all, I'm still...
(A burst of fireworks fills the sky, Rand moves to Tania's left side)
Rand: I don't believe it's because of age. I'm already 19, and you'll be 18 this year.
(Tania shakes her head and takes a step south)
Tania: Age has nothing to do with it. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm just not ready...
(More fireworks, Rand approaches Tania)
Rand: Is it something I said?
(Tania walks to the edge of the cliff, with Rand following)
Tania: I'm sorry.... Please understand. Something just doesn't feel right. Myself... Even this world...
(Tania turns towards Rand)
Tania: I need some time to think about it. That's all...
(Even more fireworks, Tania leaves, Rand walks to the edge of the cliff)
Rand: Tania... I don't understand. Is there someone else? ......
(A shooting star falls, Rand leaves)

And what does that other guy have to say?



I wish I had a girlfriend.

Now that we've seen this scene, there's more new dialogue available.



Tania: Is it possible that the spirit really spoke to you through me?

I'd say so. This is a JRPG, after all. Oddly enough, Rand is nowhere to be found after this. Anyway, now to talk to the elder for real.





No point in trying to cover it up, so I'll just say yes.

Elder: And the mountain spirit has asked you to embark upon a journey? You should see the king of Reidock.



Elder: You'll need this to get into Reidock. You're already 18. You're old enough to make your own decisions. You should follow your heart.

And now we've got a quest. It's pretty late, though, so we should head home and rest before setting out.



Especially because this guy is blocking the only way out of town.



Tania: I'm tired after performing in the ceremony... Are you tired?

Again, you have to say yes to advance the plot. Once you do...







People danced and sang until dawn. It was the best party of the year.
(The standard Dragon Quest inn jingle plays)
Then the sun rose...



Tania: I tried to wake you several times. You must have been very tired.

♪In the Town♪

And with this, it's time to head towards Reidock. However, this update is already super-long, so you'll have to wait until next time, whenever that is. To make up for it, here's Tania's official art, since this seems like a good place for it.

Last time on Dragon Quest VI, Roku was given a quest by the mountain spirit and given directions to visit the king of Reidock. First, though, some of the people of Lifecod have new dialogue. I'll transcribe it, but since most of this update will take place in Reidock, the biggest town so far, I won't be screenshotting all of it to avoid making this update too giantesque. I'll still screenshot the more important NPCs, though.



♪In the Town♪

Tania: If you could see the king, then you might learn more about this world. Like the phantom world and the demon king... There is so much that I don't understand and I am worried. I feel that something terrible will happen if nothing is done... That is why I'm not stopping you. Roku, please promise that you'll return safely.



Elder: It's difficult to see the king, but I'm sure you'll find a way. Oh, I forgot to ask you to return the sack from your last trip. Ok, you can keep it. Maybe you'll need it on this trip. Be careful.

As for the regular townsfolk, here's what they have to say.

Judy: Rand never gave me the pendant. Isn't that horrible? I think I'm going to break up with him.
Young man: Oh, Roku. I heard you received the pass from the elder. I envy you. Someday I will leave this village and become famous. That will surprise everyone.
Nun: The town of Reidock is south of Shiena. May the spirit protect you.
Old woman at well: Well, the festival is over. Now we have to prepare for this coming year.
Merchant: Oww. I danced too much last night.
Old man in bar: Hmmm... So you've seen the phantom world! Don't forget the wisdom of the mountain spirit.
Masked man: I heard you're leaving the village. Don't worry about Tania. The people of the village will look after her.
Rand's mother: Hello Roku. Have you seen my Rand? He's been gone all day. I wonder if something happened last night...
Rand's father: Hey, Roku. Did you come to see Rand? He's been gone since this morning.
Old man in craft shop: Last night's festival was so much fun.
Man: Oh, Roku. I heard you saw the phantom world. The mountain spirit also spoke to you. You must be the chosen one.
Young woman in craft shop: Did our goods sell for very much?
(Yes) - Whoa, really? I'm so glad!
(No) - It's probably because I spun the silk wrong...
Farmer: I hear the people of Reidock are really happy. I look forward to hearing about your trip.

Having said his goodbyes, Roku then sets off on his journey.



♪Another World♪

On the mountain, he runs into Rand.

Rand: I'll take good care of Tania, so you don't need to worry about her. I may not seem too serious, but I am dependable. Not everybody thinks so, but... So please don't worry.

I'm not sure how to feel about that...

On an unrelated note, there is a shortcut down the mountain that I could have used earlier, but I figured that it would be better to take the scenic route the first time.



See that trail leading to the edge of the cliff?



It actually leads off the edge, to this cave.



♪Dungeons♪

Inside are two chests, containing a Club and a Medical Herb. There's also a hole. If you jump in...



...you'll fall for quite a while...



...until you reach a dead-end tunnel near the base of the mountain. The journey to Reidock is uneventful, except for one thing.



Near Shiena, I encounter the last two enemies in this area. The Tensk can use Entice Dance and has a 1/4096 chance of dropping a Beauty Plant, and the Onion can use Medical Herbs, which it also has a 1/8 chance of dropping. By the way, I love the Onion's doofy expression.



Not long after that, I arrive at Reidock.



♪In the Town♪

There's no reason not to, so... sure.

Let me see that. So you're from Lifecod? Reidock is a lot bigger than your secluded little town.

With that, the soldier moves aside, and we're free to explore. First order of business: talk to everybody!



(Yes) - I don't think that's possible. The king is a very busy man.
(No) - That's wise. It's not easy to get an audience with the king.



But every time both armies take heavy casualties... Next time... Next time... The army of Reidock will be successful!



Then I will defeat the demon king Mudo.



A big hole in the ground? Maybe Mudo is from the phantom world, then.



Young man: I heard that the king never sleeps. He's too busy ruling his country. That can't be true, can it?
Young woman: Aah! Who are you? You're not my husband.



We must oppose him before he grows too strong.



I may be weak now, but this will make me strong.



The demon king will surely fall to the army of Reidock.

Unfortunately, we can't see what the sign he's looking at says.



I know I'm not royalty, but somehow we'll end up together...



How much did you hear?





Travelling merchant at table: We are travelling merchants. Our horse became violent in a clearing to the west. My friend was injured. The horse kicked him when he tried to get on...
Travelling merchant in bed: Ungh...





The item shop doesn't have much, but the weapon and armor shops do. That Boomerang in the weapon shop is especially nice, since it can hit every enemy on screen, per Dragon Quest tradition. But I'm a bit short, so I'll have to come back later. It's also worth noting that Roku can't equip the Big Mallet or Stone Axe, so we'll probably be getting a new party member soon.

(Yes) - You will? Oh, thank you.
(No) - I don't blame you. I think I saw something moving in the darkness.



Looks like she was right about seeing something in the darkness. This quest is optional, but worth it. However, I'm not quite ready to take on this monster, so I'll have to do some grinding outside of town for now.



These are Roku's stats before grinding...



...and after. In addition to the stat boosts, Roku has also learned two new spells - Sap, which halves a single enemy's defense, and Return, which can return him to any town he's visited. The former will especially come in handy against the demon in the well, so after stopping at the inn, the bank, and the church...



♪Dungeons♪



♪Courageous Fight♪


Boss battle!
Dark Hobbit
HP: 63
MP: 0
Attack: 48
Defense: 42
Speed: 16
Wisdom: 1
Abilities: Defenses (reduces all damage on the next turn by 90%)

OK, this is actually a regular enemy from later in the game. As I mentioned earlier, the Sap spell is useful here to counter its high defense. However, its attack is still nothing to sneeze at.





♪Dungeons♪

Eventually, though, Roku is victorious.



With the Dark Hobbit dead, Roku can claim the Antique Ring from the chest.

By the way, a Dark Hobbit living underground and zealously guarding a ring that he found... I think I've seen that somewhere before...

As for the ring itself, it boosts Defense by 2 and reduces Style by 20. Not exactly a great item, so let's return it to its rightful owner instead.



♪In the Town♪

Here is something for your trouble.



It's so hard to find people like you...

Using the Stength Strength Seed increases Roku's strength by 2. With the subquest done, let's get on with the plot.



The only way to proceed is to say yes, so...



Until then, enjoy the sights of the town.

The game is unclear about what to do here, but you have to go to the church.



Hmm... Haven't we seen that big guy somewhere before? The purple mohawk is certainly a very distinctive trait.





Once you leave the church after "meeting" Purple Mohawk, the bell starts ringing, replacing the town music.



The guard will now let you in once you tell him you're here to become a soldier.



♪At the Palace♪

The guards block off most of the paths, meaning that the only way to go from here is upstairs.



There's a lot of people who want to become soldiers. Here's what they have to say.

Fighter: I wonder how long it will take to adjust to the life of a soldier.
Masked man: They're only accepting six people. Good luck!

Good thing that there are only six applicants including Roku, then.

Warrior: My wife is worried I may die. But maybe I can save them from that fate.



To proceed, step into the empty space.

Soldi: It is a great honor to be chosen as royal guards. Therefore you will be tested. South of this castle is a Tower of Trials. I have placed an object there that I want you to return to me. Go now! For the door has been opened!
(The other applicants leave)

Talking to Soldi afterwards yields this.



Soldi: You should prepare yourself before you go.

This is actualy relevant - it's possible to fail the trial, although it doesn't affect the plot much. That being said, I'm close to the image limit, so the actual trial will have to wait until next time.

First of all, some food for thought: How can one little ring reduce its wearer's style by 20 points?

With that in mind, let's get to the meat of this update - the Tower of Trials.



En route, we encounter a new enemy. Roaris are mostly unremarkable, but can build up power, skipping a turn to do more damage on the next. Their name is kind of a weird mistranslation - the Japanese name is どくろあらい (dokuro arai), meaning something like "skull wild." That doesn't really make sense, though, so I can see why NoProgrss changed it.



Fortunately, the Tower of Trials isn't that far from Reidock.



♪Devil's Tower♪

It also has some pretty awesome music. Say what you will about Koichi Sugiyama's politics, he's still a damn good composer.



Here your wisdom and strength will be tested.

Now that we're in the tower, the rules of the test are officially in place. I'll explain them as we go, but basically the goal is to get the item that General Soldi placed on the top floor. However, there are some traps on the way. If you hit two of them, you've failed the test. In addition, getting a game over in the tower counts as hitting a trap. That being said, onwards and upwards!



Lots of spikes up ahead...



...and the chests they're blocking have already been looted.



We've encountered our first new enemy for the tower! Gas Clouds, or Gizmos as they're known in Japan, are the first enemies we've encountered with the ability to use magic. Specifically, they can use Blaze, a single-target fire spell. However, that's not too much of a problem, since they die with a single blow from Roku's mighty boomerang.



Looks like one of the other guard candidates has already fallen. Hopefully he's in good enough condition to give us info on the tower.



I should have bought more Medical Herbs...



Indeed, it is pretty dangerous. Just walking up to the guy did 16 damage, and that's not including the trip back. Fortunately, I have a good supply of Medical Herbs from enemy drops, not to mention the Heal spel.



There are two other stairways leading up in this room, but this one is the only one that requires crossing the spikes, which means it's probably the right one.



On the second floor, Roku encounters a pair of Kirikabus. They can cast Sap, so it's probably a good idea to get rid of them quickly.



If only I could find a way over there.

Apparently the ability to see through walls isn't exclusive to playable characters. Who knew?



Unfortunately, both paths on this floor are dead ends, so I'll have to take one of the other stairways. Looks like my years of JRPG experience have misled me here.



As I suspected, the stairway closest to the entrance is also a dead end...





...which means that it must be this one. As a bonus, we can now access the chest that the blond guy was wondering about earlier!



I'm not sure if a Wing of the Wyvern could be considered "definitely something good". It's certainly useful in emergencies, but the fact that it can't be used in dungeons kind of limits that aspect of it. Oh, well. It's better than nothing, I guess.



On to the third floor!



Looks like we'll have to go through this guy to proceed.



I cannot let you pass. Are you ready to fight me?

Of course. I wouldn't have come this far if I wasn't.





♪Courageous Fight♪

Boss battle!
Tower Guard
HP: 150
MP: 0
Attack: 34
Defense: 32
Speed: 22
Wisdom: 0
Abilities: Windup (builds up power for a stronger attack on the next turn)

This is arguably the first real boss battle, the Dark Hobbit being optional. Fortunately, the same tactic of Sapping his defense a couple times is still effective.



This is his attack after using Windup. To compare, the Dark Hobbit did 13 on a normal attack.



♪Devil's Tower♪

All in all, his only real strong point is his HP, which doesn't really matter when his defense has been Sapped. Eventually, it runs out, and I get a rather nice experience reward. He apparently also has a 1/32 chance of dropping a Medical Herb, but I have plenty of those.

Holy crap, did Roku actually kill that guard? At least he can proceed now. I'm just kind of surprised, because you don't usually kill humans in Dragon Quest games.



And there's even some free money in the chest just past him.



It seems that there's no way to proceed, but this window leads outside the tower.



Hey, it's the macho guy with the purple mohawk again! Hopefully he doesn't beat Roku to the treasure.



By the way, there's something down there you might want.

This is the first of the traps I mentioned.



If you walk to the edge, the masked man pushes you off.



Yeah, and I'm the prince of Midenhall. :P

This drops Roku all the way down to a small balcony with a door leading back to the first floor. So it's a good thing he didn't fall for that obvious schmuck bait.



Instead, he ignored the masked douchebag and headed inside the tower, then climbed to the fourth floor.



I'm guessing that you know what these arrow tiles do, but if not, they move you in the direction of the arrow if you step on one.



Stepping on the bottom one deposits Roku in the middle of the arrow maze, where he can talk to another soldier candidate.



I never heard anything about this kind of trial.

Good information, but a bit late.



That being said, the correct tile to step on here should be pretty obvious, but if not, it's the one two steps north from the fighter. Much easier than that arrow-tile maze I navigated in my last LP.



I wonder if there's a point to this set of arrow tiles?



Looks like the only way to proceed from here is to jump.



And we've got another opportunity to talk to purple mohawk guy! Hopefully we'll be able to actually get something out of him this time.



My name is Hassan.
Hassan: Oh, yeah. Roku. You're trying to become a volunteer soldier, too. I must be going now. May the best man win!

And with that, he heads into the door to the north. At least now we actually have a name for him other than "purple mohawk" or "macho man" or "Carver".



Each person will tell you which one to choose. But only one is telling the truth.



Ah, it's one of those puzzles. I won't give away the solution, but here's what the people have to say.

Young man outside left door: Welcome. But it would be a mistake to enter here. The door on the right is the correct door.
Old man outside middle door: Young man, listen to your elders. You would only get hurt if you chose this door.
Woman outside right door: You can definitely trust me. The only person telling the truth is the man on the left.

From this, can you figure out the correct path? By the way, if it's not obvious, taking the wrong door is another of the traps that can lead to failing the test.



The correct door leads to another section of the fifth floor, with a chest containing a Medical Herb.



The sixth floor is pretty boring, but does have random encounters. However, you aren't likely to run into any due to the short distance between the stairs. At least it's a good place to pop a Medical Herb...



...because we're on the top floor, and that guy guarding the gate looks much tougher than the Tower Guard.



You don't have to fight me now if you don't feel ready. Just jump off the wall to the left and you'll be back at the entrance. So what do you say? Are you ready to fight me?

Don't be fooled - jumping off the wall is yet another of the possible failure traps. At any rate, I've come this far, so bring it on!