DQXIS Act 3 Cleanup: A Hero's Pride

Right, so starting off this final section, we have this. Considering how much of Gondolia I forgot to do the first few times, no wonder this slipped through the cracks.

The final bargain item from these two is the divine bustier, for Jade, and you get it cheapest at 20000.

The description speaks to me of an armour that gives enemies a chance of not moving for a turn for being too smitten with Jade: this was a class benefit of Luminaries in DQs 6-7 (no relation to Erdward's title of Luminary, I don't know where the name came from) and a personal benefit of Jessica's in DQ8. DQ9 made it a Charm thing, and I think it's still in this game, I just haven't seen it much, if it all. The Divine Bustier doesn't actually do that, though, it's good for 5% evasion. Yes, it is inferior to Xenlon's Gown- Xenlon gives more Evasion than that.

I think the people of Phnom Nonh have been waiting long enough.

Veronica: Hmm... The monsters inside the mural seem to really like dancing. You don't think they're the ones who are forcing the villagers to dance, do you?
Erik: Do you remember the first time we went inside that painting? I remember thinking that was pretty crazy at the time. Thinking back, though, we've done plenty of even weirder things since then...
Jade: Someone's making an awful lot of noise, Erdward... We should go and see what's happening. It might explain why the villagers are being made to dance.
Hendrik: Surely not... Surely we have not actually entered the picture...? I have found myself in some unexpected places since joining you, Erdward, but none as odd as this.
Serena: I remember being in here before we found Dora-in-Grey. There was something in the air, something really sinister... Well, that's exactly what it feels like now. I have a horrible feeling there's something nasty waiting for us up ahead.
Sylvando: Hustle! Hustle! One, two, three! Hmm? Oh, don't worry about me, honey. I'm having the time of my life!
Rab: Aye, I'd say this was the perfect place for any monsters that want to lie low... Which means there's a good chance that the horrible beasties which put that curse on the village are hiding out here. Well, we won't let them get away with it, will we laddie?

DQXIS Act 3 Bonus: Best Friends Forever

This was the last thing I did before fighting Calasmos, and so Drustan's like "uh... go ahead?"

You get a choice of the five demons to fight, but the times aren't changed. Also, cameo appearances of the final two demons!

...TMI, no one wants to hear about my loins.

I didn't even use buffs or Brownie Boost or anything. Only a two turn boost over what I did before, though.

This is kind of a ridiculous option- not only are we undoing our marriage to Gemma, but it doesn't even feel right as its own option on this menu aesthetically.

For what it's worth, Drustan doesn't seem too judgemental.

DQXIS Act 3 Luminary's Trial: Through Thick and Thin

The time has come to enter the final of the three Trials of Drustan's companions.

And the game is happy to cement that by confirming the place as the last locale we have to visit in all of Erdrea.

Jade: So this is it, the Trial of the Luminary. We're facing the toughest monsters of all, and it's easier to get lost than ever. But we can't give up. This is the last trial. We have to show Drustan we have what it takes.
Hendrik: This place is vast, and yet you seem to know where you are going. Surely you cannot have been here before...? In any case, lead the way. I shall follow.
Rab: Ach, why'd we have to come here? It gives me the willies! Whoever designed this place needs their head examining, that's all I'll say.

The Citadel of Spite is the Fortress of Fear from Act 2- much like the Gyldenhal, the game is taking the opportunity to bring it back- except we have spawned in the middle of the place. There were teleportals all around the outside, and the game has broken them up to make the organisation of this place a mite confusing.

First off, this room. I'm not actually sure what happens if you jump down. I'm in no hurry to find out, we'll get back later.

Meanwhile, heading over this way...

DQXIS Act 3 Sage's Trial: Cleaning Up

Right, time to see what fabulous treasures await in Serenica's sapling.

...It's the First Forest. At least this is exactly where I'd expect Serenica to set one of her trials.

Veronica: The monsters are getting nastier and nastier. We need to be careful.
Erik: Let's not push ourselves too much, man. The end's not even in sight just yet. What's the point of all that training if we end up dropping dead? If things are looking hairy, we should head back to the village and rest up.
Serena: The monsters in the Trial of the Sage are even tougher than in the last trial. If we can't beat them, maybe the best thing to do would be to go back and give the Trial of the Disciple another go. That should give us a bit of confidence.
Sylvando: Wow, this is quite a forest! Don't go too far ahead, honey! I don't want to lose you! And make sure you know where you're going, of course! I'm a bit too old to be getting led astray...

I get everyone else's Party Chat didn't need changing, but it's kinda weird checking each time.

If ever you should hear thundering hooves but see no horse in sight, a great blast of wind is sure to follow, heralding the arrival of the godsteed.

Godsteeds come from DQs 9 and 10- yes, Equinox was a boss in DQ9, but godsteed is indeed the stronger foe there too. In this game, they have a Whinny, the Light-elemental breath, and Kaswoosh. We could've seen them in the Ruby Path of Doom, but this is the non-Tickington chance to get some Meteorite Bracelet drops.

This place is a bit of a teleport maze. The first thing to note is that walking down the mountain path is the first place you should go if you want to rinse the forest of its goodies.

The zeroth thing to note is that there's a teleportal behind the starting spot (there was a Mini Medal back there in the vanilla First Forest) that will take you straight to the end if you don't care about treasure.

DQXIS Act 3 Miscellaneous: Great Land Spirit's Hearth and Home

We'll be starting off today's various errands in Dundrasil, and with advance warning it's going to be raining soon. Rain in Dundrasil Act 3 is a relatively important weather condition to watch out for.

Our first stop is in the actual Ruins: We're going to pay a visit to Dad.

Veronica: I remember reading about Dundrasil in an old book. It sounded like such a beautiful place... I wish I'd had a chance to see it.
Erik: This is where Rab told you he was your grandad, right? I remember your jaw hitting the floor. Maybe you were imagining someone tall and dashing and noble-looking. Well, I hope it taught you not to judge a book by its cover.
Jade: I remember that night we fled Dundrasil. We took a secret passage that went under the castle... I wish I could remember precisely where it was, but it's all a bit of a blur.
Hendrik: I know it is too late for apologies now, but when I think back to the time I tried to capture you and Princess Jade here, I feel deeply ashamed. Well, at least some good came of it. This was where I began to doubt whether you were truly the Darkspawn. I just wish I had realised the truth sooner.
Serena: Oh dear... There's some oppressive sense of evil in the air. I didn't feel this the last time we came here. We need to be careful.
Sylvando: You came to visit your parents' grave, honey? I'm sure they're very proud to have a son like you.
Rab: When the world is at peace again, I'll have one last piece of unfinished business. I'm going to devote the rest of my life to rebuilding Dundrasil. We're going to have to get rid of that ugly great brute of a thing hanging in the sky first, though. Then a new day can dawn for all of us!

The rubble leading to the tunnels down below has already been moved by a hopeful grave robber.

He's in no hurry to hunt for treasure when there's some ominous noises coming from the basement. Which means we get first dibs!

Veronica: This place isn't exactly a lot of fun, is it? And I get the feeling there's a nasty surprise waiting for us up ahead, too. We need to be careful.
Erik: Wow... It doesn't look like anyone's been down here for a while... I mean, look at all this dust! (cough)
Jade: I remember this place. I escaped through these tunnels on the night Dundrasil was attacked...
Hendrik: Though I was here on that fateful night, I could not save your father's life... Nor could I save King Carnelian from what Mordegon did to him. Even thinking about it pains me still.
Serena: It's horrible down here. It's almost as if all the bad memories of what happened to Dundrasil are stored in this dungeon. In fact, you can almost hear the voices of all the poor people who lost their lives. I just pray they can rest in peace.
Sylvando: It's like time has stopped down here, and there's this horrible feeling of sadness that hangs in the air... Not my idea of a nice vacation spot, honey!
Rab: These tunnels were built as an escape route, in case the castle ever came under siege. They're not much use to anyone now, but still I get this funny feeling that we're not alone down here. Let's keep our wits about us, laddie.

...Lame treasure.

DQXIS Side Story: Twin Eagles

...I'm surprised I've slept in an inn ten times already. Today's update will take place in Heliodor Castle, and I needed to change the time.

This is not an official Side Story like those seen between Acts 1 and 2, but it is often considered Hendrik's equivalent. The twins have nothing of the sort, officially labelled or otherwise.

...Which does leave Jade as the only female party member with her own Side Story, which... is a choice. Not that the game really had a choice of giving a Side Story to the twins without revealing Veronica's death early, explicitly or implicitly (give Serena a Side Story without Veronica and you raise pointed questions, although it's plenty suspicious as is).

Hendrik's Side Story revolves around this shadowy wisp that we heard mention of earlier.

It's difficult to tell what it is at first glance, but it probably won't be too difficult to figure it out.

It clearly wants us to have a look through Yggdrasil's Guidance.

In the original release of DQ11, Jasper's unceremonious death at Yggdrasil in Act 3 left a sense of emptiness in its wake- Act 3 Hendrik never winds up getting the chance to engage with Jasper. The Side Story is the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.

DQXIS Act 3 Trial of the Disciple: Erdwin's Unswerving Companion

Stopping in Warrior's Rest, the innkeeper mentions the same dream affecting everyone that happened in Act 2. Clearly, Irwin and the Gloomnivore are still at it. Almost makes one wonder why Act 1 didn't feature this dream.

...We'll have to handle it later, we have a job to do.

And apparently, it involves learning Kaswooshle. Not really, I honestly don't know why I bothered.

At last, the second of these downstairs areas is now open to us.

...Not sure what I expected.

Veronica: Can Drustan really have built this place? It's a little... odd. Being a legendary hero doesn't necessarily mean you have any sense of style, I suppose.
Erik: Wow, this place is seriously weird. Is it just me, or is anyone else getting dizzy?
Jade: This place seems to go on forever. I've completely lost track of how far we've come.
Hendrik: I have known the name Drustan since I was a boy. To think that he constructed this place and that it still stands is truly extraordinary.
Serena: It's a bit chilly, isn't it? Let's get going before we freeze!
Sylvando: Go on, darling! Go towards the light!
Rab: This must be the place Cetacea told us about. In that case, it was built by Drustan in order to test the mettle of any who dared to come here... Well, I'm ready if you are, laddie!

No, Sylvando. Although there's Ronnie going for the neck.

This "realm between worlds" exists multiple times in Drustan's Labyrinth, and every time you find one, there's always a full-heal Goddess statue to save at. It's important to remember you can count on its presence.

Welcome to the Path to Trial Isle. Looks pretty familiar, right? Drustan's Labyrinth is filled with recycled locations from the main game. I'd be disappointed, but the game does reorganise the direction of travel enough to keep me entertained. Besides, the loot's still as high-quality as one might want.