Hotto, like Gallopolis, is a Town Story the game is prepared for you completing as soon as you get the boat- so only Hendrik, Rab and Sylvando will be story relevant. Unlike Gallopolis, there will be actual danger involved that makes it difficult to do so before now. Not impossible, for the sufficiently determined, but I'd rather have Serena than not.
Hendrik: I understand that back when I was pursuing you, you found refuge here after you evaded me in Heliodor. To think of how loyally I carried out the King's orders then fills me with shame. Little did I know his true nature. Or yours.
Rab: I'd been hoping we'd have a chance to visit Hotto and have a hot bath... But something just doesn't seem quite right here, does it, laddie? Well, it'll do us no good to ignore it. Let's ask a few of the locals and find out what's going on.
Sylvando: So let me get this straight... You met the twins here when you were still on the run from the forces of Heliodor... Then you came to Gallopolis, met me, and the rest is history! Ah, it seems like it was just yesterday!
Jade: It seems that since the fall of Yggdrasil, the world has been plagued by all manner of monsters. Judging from the faces of the people here, something untoward is going on. Could they have monster troubles of their own?
Erik: Is it just me, or are the people here not being as friendly as usual...?
Serena: Veronica and I came here before we met any of you, but the path to Mount Huji was closed. I remember being desperate to see it... Well, now's my chance, I suppose! Let's see what secrets await us within the volcano.
The deal with Erdwin's Lantern, while important, was pretty "get in, get out". Hotto's Town Story is a full-blooded, proper Town Story, complete with twists and a dungeon to complete.
To be fair, the first Town Story was light on Hotto characters.
There are two monsters residing on Mount Huji that are problems right now, and I'm not sure which this is. I suspect it's the Beast.
And an NPC wondering if Miko is doing the right thing about their problem. That should tell you plenty.
We saw two Hotto children playing Tatsunaga and Ryu- the sister made a haiku fail. Those two are the ones missing. Note, however, that their mother is also "missing"- the people of Hotto seem to have an idea of where she should be.
There's also a tourist way up by the bath-houses who has a Quest for us.
Considering... everything that's going on, I can't blame the village for having problems getting their hands on volcanic rock.
I mean, if the reason you went someplace was out of order, you'd be rather disappointed too, right?
...Or anyone, really.
To complete this quest, we need to acquire an item from a "lava lampling" on Mount Huji. You can get them to spawn in the Hotto Steppe, but I imagine that might not work so well.
I'll get on it.
The beast they're afraid of attacked someone and that someone is seriously injured. Or at the very least traumatised.
The reason this is worrying is because the people of Hotto need to perform a rite of some description, and this beast is in the way.
Incidentally, this is going to be our proper introduction to the character of Miko. I know the whole "holding a branch in front of her face while praying" ritual is significant, because a similar character from Okami (Queen Himiko of Sei-An) does it too, but I have no idea what it's for and what search terms I'd have to use to find out why.
Miko's establishing characer moment: Chewing out a disciple because he couldn't take out a monster that attacked him.
Why isn't Miko doing it herself? She took an injury fighting Tatsunaga, I believe, and is in no shape to even be on her feet and berating people.
I think that's a normal reaction, Sylv.
Miko realises she has company, and switches to an indoor voice.
Miko explains that the rite in question is to stop Mount Huji from erupting- a valid thing to be worried about.
OK, that makes things more clear. He wasn't actually injured, just terrified. Still, though, he's a monk, not a warrior- as much as many RPGs like to conflate the two.
The defeat of Tatsunaga is not much of a secret, even in Act 1- we got the story of Miko and Ryu taking it out, with Ryu losing his life in the effort. But if you haven't been going out of your way to talk to random NPCs and read random bookshelves, this would also be your introduction to that.
I guess we're tasked with fighting a monster! Sounds simple enough.
We could've gone to Mount Huji any time we wanted after Hotto- we would've found an Ursa Minor there and couldn't do anything significant because all the doors are locked, but it could be done. Now, at last, we are supposed to be going there.
Hendrik: Wherever we go, we find people plagued by fearsome monsters... Let us hurry to the mountain path where this fiend was sighted. We shall not let it continue to threaten the people of Hotto!
Rab: I remember wee Veronica telling me that she was kidnapped by monsters here in Hotto, back before Yggdrasil fell. Now it seems the folks here have a new beastie to contend with- some places just don't have much luck, eh?
Sylvando: Poor Miko is doing way too much- she shouldn't be trying to protect her people by herself! Let's do what we can to help, honey. With the world in this state, everyone needs a hand from time to time!
Jade: Miko doesn't just pray all day- she's willing to fight dragons to defend her people. If it weren't for her injury, she'd be out there fighting right now. I can imagine how frustrating that must be.
Erik: Let's find out what the deal is with this monster...
Serena: When we came here before Yggdrasil fell, we were told about how a hero named Ryu had slain a man-eating dragon and lost his life. And now we learn that he was Miko's only son... She is clearly a very strong person. She has suffered a terrible loss, and yet she is still dedicated to her people...
The people of Hotto can hear a roaring monster from the village. Which is... kinda disturbing, when you think about it.
On a related note, the villager's recognised a note of Tatsunaga's roar in there.
...Excuse me, could you repeat that last bit?
...Let's, uh... focus on collecting some stuff around Hotto before getting into Huji itself. There's a new Horknight mount out here, and a few rivers to cross.
This river, in particular, can be a pit of a pain. You may have to "run" and jump to make it over. And even then, I'm still not entirely clear which shore you're intended to use to climb out if you fall in the river.
Molten globules in this one.
Right... Mount Huji, then.
Say hello to our monster. I'd tell you to feel threatened, but the voice actor took no pains to make it sound like this was anything other than a child trying to sound scary. That's not even a proper roar.
Hendrik is fooled, at least.
You might want to show us those claws, perhaps?
Sylvando delivers a triumphant line...
And it seems he got the beast scared.
The beast doesn't actually have a plan past this point.
The other one brings up a good point- the jig may have been up before now when we didn't try to run away, but now it is definitely up.
I'm not sure where they got the ursa minor skin from, but you've gotta hand it to them- the ingenuity needed to not only come up with this plan, but pull it off (it can't have been easy making the bear skin do anything, let alone anything threatening) earns them a round of applause.
I'm not sure which one was on top, but considering this line and the way they fell down, I think it was Atsuo on the bottom. Atsuo was also the one saying all the threatening things: Atsuko was the one who asked why we weren't running away.
And, I might point out, they traumatised a monk. That poor man is never going to live this one down.
Hendrik is disappointed in them for... risking their lives. Not an invalid rebuke (Mount Huji does have real ursa minors and other monsters, not to mention all the volcanic activity), but not the one I'd make.
This line, right here, is a line of world-building I find incredibly fascinating, because of the implications. Apparently, not only is speaking in haiku a learned behaviour of the people of Hotto, but it is something that a severely distressed child will go out of their way to continue to demonstrate.
Just one of them, though- Atsuko is fine continuing to break the rhyme.
Right, so we get to the part of the story where Miko's plan is the wrong one.
Rab, they almost could not have been clearer.
I appreciate the mental image of a mountain "ignoring" rain.
And, when they think they're in private, they go right back to normal cadence.
There's something they have to show us about their little problem over this direction.
Hendrik: Were those children engaged in a mere prank, or do they have some more serious purpose? Come, let us find their hideout. We need to learn more.
Rab: So the big beastie that sent that priest packing was just a couple of wee bairns. That priest is going to have some explaining to do when Miko finds out about this...
Sylvando: The little ones almost fooled us! As a performer, I've got to hand it to them- they were pretty convincing! Now, let's go to their hideout and find out what their story is. I have to say, I'm pretty intrigued.
Jade: So the terrifying monster turned out to be a couple of cute kids called Atsuo and Atsuko. I must admit, they had me fooled for a second there.
Erik: So the boy's Atsuo and the girl's Atsuko, right? Or is it the other way round?
Serena: Why are those children so eager to stop the rite taking place? It seems very important to the people of Hotto. I wonder just what's going on...
To head Erik's question off, Atsuo is the boy, Atsuko is the girl. I usually remember "ko" being a feminine honorific in Japanese, although I'm fairly sure Atsuko isn't using it.
In their hideout, they have... their mother.
I'm almost starting to feel like Atsuo is overdoing it with the metaphors. I feel like this might actually be intentional on the writer's part- between this, haikus being learned behaviour at all, and Atsuko making the only haiku fail I've spotted thus far (to be fair to her, "Ryu" is a tricky word), they've done a good job of making the "children using haikus" feel an appropriate level of stilted.
All right, so what is their plan here?
...
...
Miko did what now?
Now is not the time for puns, Sylv.
Miko just came out and said "human sacrifice or the village gets destroyed."
No one questions it, of course.
...
You know, I think that, for once, Mordegon has absolutely nothing to do with this. Tatsunaga was around before the Fall- hell, Miko and Ryu handled him!
What does this woman have to offer? No idea. I don't think there was a reason, other than perhaps a random pick.
Finally, you're speaking Hendrik's language!
...I can't exactly blame her for her pessimism here. Miko's gone crazy and isn't likely to let her just walk out of this.
Oh, good to know, there was a reason. Not sure where she wasn't supposed to be- except maybe disobeying her doctor's orders for bed rest.
Good idea.
Rab, you could stand to pay a little more attention to the severity of what's going on here.
Atsuo actually joins us as a guest, although he doesn't actually do anything. He's just a kid, and no longer has access to his ursa minor suit.
Atsuo: The mountain's secret, how I wished to learn the truth, but monsters abound... Beyond the ladder, a path leads into darkness. The volcano's heart...
Hendrik: Pretending to be a monster hardly seems a judicious course, but those children were only doing what they could to protect their mother. I can understand their actions, at least. As for the people of Hotto, I am afraid I cannot be so forgiving. There is never any excuse to sacrifice the life of another to ensure your own safety.
Rab: I thought this was a simple case of some beastie terrorising the village, but it seems things are a wee bit more complicated than that. Before we go back to Hotto, let's head into the volcano and find out what's really going on.
Sylvando: Hotto seemed like a lovely little tight-knit community, where everyone helped each other out... And now we find out they're planning to sacrifice someone!? Surely Atsuo and Atsuko can't be the only ones who aren't happy about this!
Jade: I feel for those children's mother. I would have chosen to sacrifice myself too, in her position. If it came to it, I would lay down my life to save the lives of those around me.
Erik: I mean, come on- human sacrifice? That's pretty extreme. I guess we need to find out what's really going on before jumping to any conclusions, though...
Serena: Sacrificing an innocent person is never right, even if it is for the good of the whole village! Why aren't the people protesting!? Why are they going along with this!?
Atsuo still speaks in full, proper haiku in Party Chat, but I decided for the benefit of the format, I'd just condense it into normal dialogue.
You bite Miko's ankle! Make sure it's the busted one!
By the way, this is a tockle over here. He's probably the hardest tockle to find that's not one of the dull grey ones.
Cannock Castle is the home of the Prince of Cannock (known as either Princeton or Cookie, or a whole liege of other names). Since it's DQ2, I don't know what else it gets up to, but rest assured we'll be looking for Cookie when we get there.
...Cookie...
Anyway, here we are in the "secret entrance" side of Mount Huji. This is a short mini-dungeon with some of the Mount Huji enemies.
The fire in their bellies can reach tremendous temperatures, and losing focus for even a second could see them consumed in flames, making them understandably anxious.
Like the lava lamplings we're after. They're new to 11, can cast Sizzle and Oomph, have a habit of throwing fireballs around, and can also call for help from their best friends...
Strange slimes made of an oily sludge with a truly unique texture. Touch one, and you won't forget it.
Slick slimes are also new to DQ11, being the first brand new Bubble Slime recolour since DQ2. Their main schtick is throwing around flammable oil to lower fire resistance.
Like that, for instance. Not that they know any fire attacks.
If you just don't feel like dealing with either, Kacrack usually takes them both out in one go. Erik can steal Goobricants from the slick slimes, though, and that's an alchemy ingredient you'll want plenty of.
Gotcha.
The rare drop for the lamplings is fire wood.
Got me one of these. Serena'll want to have Wands at hand when she needs to focus on playing the healer, and this one does have its uses coming up.
The secret path ends in a dead end.
I do not need to know that information, feathers.
Welp. Something is roaring up in the mountains, and it clearly wasn't Atsuo!
...Atsuo, it's not you, right?
That's... a red spitzfire... a...
...dragon.
Tatsunaga is alive!
And was possibly never dead to begin with.
I've previously mentioned that the town of Jipang from DQ3, from which Hotto borrows liberally aesthetically, is also a heavy inspiration for the Town Story, and it's about time we started making comparisons. Jipang is being tormented by Orochi- OK, the Orochi attacking Jipang only has five heads, not eight- who is also demanding human sacrifices for appeasement- mainly because this is something the mythological Orochi does.
So why is this a spoiler for the plot of Hotto, then? It turns out that Pimiko, Queen of Jipang, has a secret about the nature of Orochi that gives her a vested interest in feeding her, and saving Jipang required uncovering that secret. Considering how quickly the plot was ready to make Miko seem shady, I suspect the writers knew DQ3 veterans were immediately going to get suspicious of Miko when Tatsunaga showed up alive.
...
Atsuo, you'll be bringing proof, won't you?
...OK, fine, I'm not jumping down there. I don't think Evac works in the combat engine.
Atsuo: Betrayal most foul, Miko means to feed the beast, her words are all lies. The truth must be told, Miko's plot must be exposed, light shone on her deeds.
Hendrik: I cannot help feeling that we should have engaged the dragon in combat, but for now it is out of reach. Let us return to Hotto and confront Miko with the truth.
Rab: That dragon doesn't look like it's going anywhere any time soon, but if it ever got it into its head to attack the village, it wouldn't be pretty. Let's get back to Hotto and tell everyone the beastie's still alive. They have a right to know.
Sylvando: Talk about nasty surprises! Honey, that was a real live dragon! We're lucky he was taking an afternoon nap, or we'd have been in big trouble. Now, let's get out of here. I'm starting to feel like a leg of boiled ham.
Jade: So Miko claimed the dragon was slain, but this was untrue. And now she insists that Atsuo's mother be sacrificed... Could she really be doing all this to hide the truth? Could Atsuo be right?
Erik: If that dragon attacked Hotto, it wouldn't take any prisoners. We need to do something about it before it can do any damage.
Serena: Before we met you, Veronica and I came to Hotto and heard stories of the fearsome dragon that had once terrorised the village. We were told that Miko's son Ryu had died while slaying it... So how can it still be alive?
Incidentally, not only does Erik have a full complement of Party Chat for Hotto, but so does his amnesia self. I've not been bothering checking for them all, but the one for this moment jumped out from the datamine and deserves to be used as an example:
Erik: It's strange. Walking round here with a kid in tow reminds me of something... But what?
Here's your brimstone.
Are you sure you're doing this magnaminously?
...Am I sure I'm doing this magnaminously?
Don't push it.
Although I appreciate the goobricant nonetheless.
All right, this time, we've got a boss coming up. Pack your fire resistance and your Archangel's Boots. Especially pack that second thing, War Cry is not fun.
You didn't answer the knocks.
...Oh Yggdrasil, Tatsunaga is four syllables. It must be so hard for the people of Hotto to talk about him- he takes up half the second line all on his own.
Well, Miko's already gotten angry about that reveal.
If Miko told you to jump off a bridge, would you- oh wait, she's already done that.
And you can hear it from here.
Miko scoffs because how could Atsuo do anything when her monks did nothing?
That startled Miko out of her haiku habit. That poor monk is so fired...
(Also, I'm side-eyeing "The unholy fiend you feared" as a seven-syllable line. Depends on how you read the word "feared".)
You can say it all you want, it'll never actually be true.
The kid bites back hard on this one.
Hard. At this point, both Atsuo and the DQ3 veterans are probably thinking Miko is in exactly the same position as Pimiko, or at least serving the same ends.
Well, OK, at this point, Atsuo has invented details about Miko's plans he has no proof for and have no basis in fact, but he just wants to keep up the screaming at Miko.
And Miko takes offence and shuts him down.
With that said, I don't think the people of Hotto particularly like her right now still.
If Tatsunaga is still alive, well... the people of Hotto are in worse shape than they've been trying to pretend.
Miko, once more, tries to establish her narrative as the correct one. Although, come to think of it... this particular haiku does not have any lies in it.
She's gotten even angrier, though, and stubbornly insists on keeping to her plan without explaining why.
Atsuo, for all his youth, insists that he's doing the right thing anyway and presses forward. The fact that he doesn't actually see the truth, just the attempted coverup, doesn't seem to bother him.
Oh yeah, by the way, Miko, you can hear the dragon from Hotto.
...Although not usually this closely.
Atsuo: Do not tarry here! The village is in danger. We must face our fears.
Hendrik: No one can predict what lies ahead, but we can make sure that we are always prepared for battle.
Rab: That wasnae the friendliest roar I've ever heard... Come on, laddie! Let's see what's going on!
Sylvando: Chop chop, darling! We can't just stand here! Let's go after Miko!
Jade: We had plenty more to say to Miko, but that can wait. Let's get after her!
Erik: That didn't sound good...
Serena: Oh dear... I do hope I'm wrong, but I've got a feeling we have an unwelcome visitor...
Hi there!
Miko has already made it all the way to the entrance of the village, where Tatsunaga settled down.
Atsuo starts panicking.
Fortunately, there are some in Hotto that are a little more prepared.
You guys have crossbows. How many bolts do you think you can shoot in one go before reloading?
Miko jumps forward, reveals herself to be on the dragon's side... and then reveals the plot suddenly isn't the story of Jipang after all.
"Fox" is certainly a correct metaphor for Miko right now. Although, wait a second...
With Tatsunaga on their doorstep, Miko decided to keep with the sacrifice plan and threw herself on the pyre. She's dragon food now.
That still leaves a dragon in Hotto to worry about, though.
...I can do that.
Atsuo: The nightmare comes true, the dragon must be beaten, our lives in your hands.
Hendrik: I confess, I had little sympathy for the people of Hotto upon learning of their plan to make a human sacrifice. But now they are in mortal danger and we cannot stand idly by. Come, Erdward, let us return to the fray!
Rab: The monks are fighting the good fight, but they're not going to be able to hold that dragon off for long. Look lively, laddie- we need to get back there and face that beast!
Sylvando: Come on! If we don't take care of this dragon, no one will! We can't just leave it be, honey! It'll tear the whole place to shreds!
Jade: I, I can't believe it. Miko tried to protect her people, and paid the ultimate price... We need to hurry, Erdward! If we don't stop this dragon, who knows what it could do next?
Erik: Man... I still can't believe it. The dragon ate Miko in a single bite... We need to do something to stop it, Erdward. Otherwise I don't think she'll be its last victim...
Serena: It's so strange. It looked like Miko was trying to protect the dragon. But why? Well, we can think about that later, I suppose- right now we just need to make sure that dragon doesn't eat anyone else!
...Well... in this case, I'd probably say leave it to the professionals.
By which I mean me, not this guy.
...Please leave it to me.
How eloquent! Giving me NES DQ1 vibes. Albiet DQ1 probably would've somehow added like seven more words to that sentence.
A ferocious red dragon feared for its penchant for eating people. It was originally attracted to Mount Huji by the heat and the smell of humans.
Dragon family
2400 HP
240 MP
Tatsunaga is a boss that means business. He gets three attacks per turn if he so pleases, and he has blistering fireballs, battering slams and a ferocious war cry at his command. When I said we had no business here before getting Serena, I meant it.
This entire party is made up of people we didn't have access to when we first visited the Hotto Steppe in Act 2.
Just in case you haven't been taking my warnings seriously.
There is one thing that Tatsunaga doesn't have, though-
Enough HP to go toe to toe with Erik's mighty triple Dragon Slash.
That's him gone, although he's left the village in a right state.
...If by "saved" you mean "no longer in danger", then yes. I imagine that's tough to fit in 17 syllables, though.
Hey, someday, one of you will blossom into a fine lion. That's how sheep work, right?
(My bet's on the kids.)
Sylvando didn't get a good enough picture of what Miko was after- probably a distance thing for us.
Atsuo dismisses the idea that Miko defending Tatsunaga was something to be emulated. Considering what Miko's been up to, not the worst position to take.
...Yeah, you didn't think the one go with Tatsunaga was it? If you couldn't take this fight, you may not want to press on.
If you can handle him, though, we can make our way there.
Atsuo: The fiend licks its wounds, beyond the great mountain gate, Tatsunaga's lair. But the gate is locked- let us return to the shrine, the maid has the key.
Hendrik: The village has been saved for now, but the dragon escaped with its life... Curses! We were so close to defeating the beast... This is not over, Erdward. We must face it again. But we must tread with caution- few things are fiercer than a wounded dragon.
Rab: Come on, laddie, ye heard young Atsuo. We need to find the key for that gate.
Sylvando: The dragon's gone, but the people here must be pretty badly shaken. I mean, they saw their High Priestess being devoured in front of them. Oh, darling... It doesn't bear thinking of!
Jade: That dragon was a formidable foe. We did all we could, but we could not slay it... But we're not going to give up! We will find it, and we will finish it, you have my word!
Erik: That dragon was seriously tough. I really thought we were in trouble there... Well, we managed to send it packing, but who knows when it'll come back. We need to be ready for it.
Serena: We got rid of the dragon, but the village has suffered some terrible damage... We should speak to some of the local people here before doing anything else. After that, we can think about finishing off the dragon.
Next time, we try not to go into the belly of the beast.
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