Crossed Paths is a set of stories in Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. They involve distortions affecting and merging the twin worlds.
Upon the 3.24 release, this side story was reclassified as a main story.
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(I don't think this is where I should be going at the moment...) The following section contains potential story spoilers! |
Main Story[]
Part I[]
This part contains spoilers from Bestower of Wealth.
The Plutocrat Serial Murder Case[]
The Chosen One is tasked with retrieving the Dreadborn Fragment, who seeks people dissatisfied with the world and grants them power in order to engulf the world in a distortion.
The Ring guides them to New Delsta, where they encounters a crowd surrounding an exotic dancer performing in the streets. But it seems she was looking for someone who isn't in the town, so she was about to take her leave. As the people were talking about how she could rival the biggest star in the continent, like if they were summoning her, she appears in the scene, having heard rumors about the Desert Dancer in the town. She challenges Primrose to a dancing contest in the theater, and the Desert Dancer accepts. As the Chosen One recognizes characters from both Orsterra and Solistia converging in a single place, they began to understand the nature of the distortion they need to deal with, but they need more information.
(In the town, players can encounter playable travelers as townspeople. They can be talked with, but for obvious reasons, they can't be inquired as regular npcs.)
Head to the Gil's tavern. The travelers are looking for the Desert Dancer, but Gil informs them they are a day late: she was dancing in the place a day ago. Gil also remarks he is kinda perplexed about the influx of new faces to the town, but there is a case of wealthy people getting murdered lately. A client will call Gil, and while Gil is busy, a more than familiar face enters to the place, shocking the travelers. Tiziano has come to deliver white grape wine, courtesy from the Bargello Family. Tasting the wine, the clients are delighted, but Gil, while recognize the wine's worth, asks what's his business there. Tiziano is looking for the Blacksnakes. Hearing the name, the customers suddenly fall silent. A voice tells the young to stop talking and a woman appears in the scene. She warns him the Blacksnakes' eyes are upon the city, and talking carelessly about them can get him fatally bitten. She asks him to leave, as she will pretend nothing happened here, but Tiziano declines. As he is being insistent, the woman, introducing herself, tells him she will introduce him an acquaintance if he meet her in their base before leaving the place. Tiziano can't believe her luck, but going alone to a snake nest doesn't seem a good idea and, as he is looking the place, he notices the Chosen One, still shocked. Tiziano asks him if he had seen a ghost or something. Seems this Tiziano remembers the events happening in Valore and the Witch of Greed, but there's something off in his version of things. He is sure the travelers heard the previous conversation, so Tiziano asks them if they can go together to the game parlor. The Chosen One tells them about the distortion they are meant to fix, but seems Tiziano doesn't have the slighest idea of what are they talking about, but as the young insist the travelers may find something as they are together, the Chosen One decide to go with the tide and accompany them to the snake's nest.
Go to the game parlor. Throné will be waiting in the entrance. The party follow her to the place. As soon they enter, they are surrounded by the blacksnakes. The blond blacksnake welcomes the party to their base. Introducing himself as the one who manages the place in their bosses's absences, he is eager to hear what's Tiziano business with the Blacksnakes. Seems the young is inquiring about the recent plutocrats serial murders, and he wants to confirm if the Blacksnakes are somehow involved. One of Bargello Family's business partner was assassinated in a gruesome way, so they need to know who is the one behind the incidents. Upon seeing an upset Throné complaining about how he is overstepping the line, Tiziano clarifies he have no intentions of messing with the Blacksnakes' business; they just want to find the culprit, and said culprit is causing problems within the snake's territory. Once they capture him, they will handle them to the Blacksnakes so they can decide their fate. Pirro accepts his proposal, but he warns them they will be closely watched from now. The blacksnake Gary will be appointed for the job, to the others members' surprise. The thugs ask Pirro to reconsidering his choice, as there are people far more reliable than him. Seems Gary doesn't fit in the ranks, as he is deemed as a hopeless coward. Pirro argues Gary may be timid, but that's what makes him cautious about the surroundings.
Go to the Eastern New Delsta Highroad. Seems there was an incident so brutal even the carriage where the murder occured was destroyed. As they are investigating the area, they encounter Dolcinaea. As soon they notice the travelers, Veronica assumes a offensive stance. The travelers explain them. Dolcinaea is inquiring about the case as well. Gary find curious someone like her is even bothering in taking part in the investigation, but the star is convinced as long the case is unclose, people won't feel safe enough to leave their homes, lest to go to the theater, so the case kinda concerns her as well. As they are talking, they are approached by a man who ask Dolcinaea why she is the only one who shines this bright. The man claims he saw a vision where he was the Star of Solistia, so he is displeased about the reality he lives it's that different. While emitting a sinister aura and an ominous reaper-looking shadow behind him, he concludes he only needs to kill Dolcinaea and take the place as the next star before attacking the travelers.
| Name | Lv. | HP |  |
Weak | Leaf |  |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreadborn-Infected Thespian | 20 | 8,720 | 8 |       | 1,100 | 324 | 10 | None |
The man is cursing the fact he can't be as famous as Dolcinaea, but the star lectures him about how being a star isnt's as easy as he thinks. The man tries to escape, but Tiziano swiftly intercepts him and restrains him. As he is holding him, Tiziano notices the man possesses quite the strength, so he asks the thespian if he was the one who attacked the carriage. The thespian comments he encountered a hooded man who saw potential in him, and he was granted power. The more he yearned for the ideal world shown to him in the vision, the more he came to despise the reality he lived in, with his newfound powers growing stronger in the process. Tiziano connects the dots and begins to understand what the Chosen One had told him about the distortion. Gary offers to escort him to the Blacksnakes to interrogate him, while Tiziano offers to help Veronica in escorting Dolcinaea to the theatre.
In the way to the game parlor, Pirro and the Blacksnakes encountered a bloody scene: the captured thespian lying dead while Gary is unconscious near him.
Go to the Blacksnake base. There, Pirro will explain the situation: both Gary and the suspect were ambushed and the last one was killed. The other blacksnakes seem unfazed, as they comment they never expected anything from the weakling Gary. Pirro ask Gary if he managed to get information from the suspect, and the timid blacksnake reveals the suspect was talking about seeing a hooded man coming out from the sewers before everything went blank. Pirro asks the Chosen One to pass that information to Tiziano, and Gary volunteer to go alongside the Chosen One.
Go to the entrance of the New Delsta threater. They find Tiziano in front of the theater. While Tiziano is informed of what happened, they witness a scene where the Desert Dancer is rejecting La'mani's proposals. She greets the travelers, and after talking with Tiziano for a while, she leaves the place. Gary admits she is quite a curious woman, as he is unable to read her at all. Tiziano tells him it's that air of mystery what makes a woman attractive.
Time to go to the Underground Waterway. There, they they encounter a group of impoverished people. The group starts begging for food, to which Tiziano responds by giving them bread and wine. This surprises Gary, who asks him why he bothers to give them food today when they won't have any tomorrow, so it's pointless to show mercy to such scum. While Tiziano explains his philosophy of sharing happiness with others, one of the paupers begins to emit a strange aura and starts rambling about how he can see an alternate version of himself living a luxurious life instead of living in the sewers; and the other paupers people began to be infected by the aura while the ominous shadow that appeared when they faced the man who went after Dolcinaea appears behind them. Claiming that the world they live in is unjust and cruel, they attack the travelers and their allies.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreadborn-Infected Pauper (Sword) | 20 | 5,480 | 6 |    | 1,100 | 324 | 10 | None |
| Dreadborn-Infected Pauper (Dagger) | 20 | 2,600 | 4 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
Upon calming the crazed paupers, Tiziano mentioned he could see that shadow again. The pauper mentions there was a hooded man who told them they can gain power. He couldn't remember the face, but it remarks the man had a collar similar to Gary's, the identity of a blacksnake.
Go to the game parlor. There, with the available information and Throné's own inquiries, they single out Gary was the one who killed the alleged perpetrator, much to everyone's surprise. The other blacksnakes couldn't stop laughing at the idea: there's no way an pathetic man like him could have done such a thing. Then Gary suddenly snaps, as he started to emit the same aura as the thespian and the paupers. Summoning the power of the Dreadborn Fragment, he started to mercilessly killing those who mocked him before. Claiming he had enough of being everyone's laughingstock, he uses the fragment's power to turn into a beast, attacking the party afterwards.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary the Dreadborn Demon | 22 | 18,110 | 15 | | 1,600 | 1,300 | 10 | None |
Upon being subdued by the travelers and the blacksnakes, Gary's transformation is reverted. Tiziano tells him about his past and how he thought his life would be reduced to stealing from others, but after meeting a certain someone who taught the joy of sharing the happiness, he is sure anyone can turn over a new leaf. Tiziano offered to help him in being better, but in that moment the ominous shadow resurfaces once again, and Gary, yelling to it, understands the motive: they want to get rid of him. Tiziano rushes to save him, but the reaper power's shockwave pushes him back, so he and the others can only witness how Gary, as he lamented how everything has come to this, is brutally murdered in the same way the blacknakes Gary previously killed moments before. The shadow would disappear after finishing the deal.
The party will talk about that shadow from before. Pirro remarks Gary talked about a "Dreadborn Fragment" before transforming, and the shadow took a paper-form before disappearing, so he thinks everything is related. Agreeing the case it's far from over, Pirro and Throné decide to lend their help to the Chosen One and Tiziano for this extraordinaire case.
Two Dancing Maidens[]
The Chosen One and Tiziano meet near the theater in New Delsta. Apparently, the crowd is excited about a dance competition between two renowned dancers. Pirro and Throné arrive on the scene. Tiziano asks if they are planning to go there, to which Pirro replies the Blacksnakes can take a break from time to time. Seeing Throné grow impatient, Pirro asks if she's eager to enter, but Throné neither denies nor confirms. The blond Blacksnake asks if they have more information, to which Tiziano denies. They only know the Dreadborn Fragment is jealous of those who are successful, which led to the murders of several plutocrats. Tiziano points out the Fragment attempted to kill Dolcinaea, so the chance of it appearing at the theater is high. As they speak, the theatre doorman announces that the theater is now open to the public.
The next scene focuses on Primrose and Dolcinaea performing on stage while the party are watching from their seats. Meanwhile, a female dancer in the corridors begins to emit a sinister aura, frightening everyone present. The Ring of the Flamebringer alerts the Chosen One, who informs the others about the situation, so they decide to go and check on it.
The theater will finally become accessible. Go to the backstage, to the left and follow the way to the end.
The dancer is demanding more fame and more wealth from La'mani. This terrifies the manager, who runs away at the same time the Chosen One and the others enter the scene.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreadborn-Infected Dancer | 65 | 97,230 | 20 |    | 2,000 | 2,700 | 10 | None |
The group manages to calm the dancer by rendering her unconscious. Throné can finally confirm the Fragment is definitely in the theater, but she is interrupted by a scream coming from the backstage.
On stage, Dolcinaea and Primrose witness the Fragment taking the form of a grim reaper. It claims that its world will soon replace the current one. The Chosen One and their allies enter the scene, but are attacked by the reaper, driving them back. Dolcinaea points out that if the Reaper wants to be the center of attention this badly, then it should also perform like the rest. The others, recovering from the initial blow, prepare for battle.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envy, the Dreadborn Reaper (Scripted) | 65 | 9,999,999 | 99 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
Tiziano realizes their attacks are not working. The reaper urges them to surrender to its world, as a despairing heart strengthens it. The Chosen One and the others are enveloped in this sinister aura. While they are unable to move, a voice echoes inside Tiziano. The young tells the voice to stop, as he abandoned "that future" to live with his family as "Tiziano." The voice continues speaking, repeating a more than familiar motto, and the young, howling in pain, seems to transform into his other self, surprising everyone. Throne asks if he is still Tiziano, but the man replies that he is a "Have-not", one who abhors and denies all wealth in the world. The reaper urges him to show his hatred, so this world can be destroyed. Oskha doesn't deny he indeed harbors hatred, but his feeling is toward wealth and greed. Considering the reaper have been quite greedy for its own sake, the Have-not points his sword at it. Dolcinaea, while asking if the others are ready, tells the reaper she does not need a "what if" version, since she was born to be a star, so no matter the future: no one will shine brighter than her. Spreading her wings, Dolcinaea claims her brilliance will cleanse all jealousy in the hearts of those seeing her.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Envy, the Dreadborn Reaper | 65 | 267,330 | 24 | | 8,000 | 32,000 | 10 | None |
After the battle, the Fragment is collected by the Chosen One. Oskha reverts to Tiziano. Primrose asks the audience if they enjoyed the show, with Dolcinea adding the fun and the night are just begun.
At the end of the show, Tiziano admits he feels dizzy and his memories are blurred. Pirro comments both Tiziano and Dolcinea performed quite well, but since he doesn't remember what happened, he asks him to tell her. Primrose, seeing the Fragment in the Chosen One's hands, comments once the Fragment is in its rightful place, the world will return to its original state. Tiziano understands what this means, but he is not discouraged. His last wish is to perform the Bargello Family greeting once more. Pirro and the others join him, surprising him. He asks them if they want to be part of the Bargello Family too, but Throne replies that only for that day. After the gesture, the distortion disappears and the world returns to its previous state.
The Chosen One meets with Isla, who congratulates them for avoiding another crisis. The Cait Scholar comforts them by saying that, although it's painful to say goodbye to the people who fought alongside them, those memories will remain with them as long as they live. The travelers ask him about the other Fragments, to which Isla replies that he has taken proper care of them. Maybe...
Part II[]
This part contains spoilers from Master of All and Emberflame Story.
The Righteous Thief[]
The Ring of Flamebringer guides the Chosen One to Canalbrine. Before entering, they encounter the "Cat" of Salvation, who tells them she senses the Fragment's power in the city and said power has begun to wreak havoc on the city. The Chosen One doesn't recognize the Cat because they've never met in this world, so she reverts her transformation to Ditraina, who is wearing a curious outfit, claiming she decided to use it to explore the world while searching for the Dreadborn Fragment. As she mentions she will help the Chosen One to find the Fragment, a townsperson passing by comments on her attire, saying the October Fair is approaching. The townsperson leaves, and Ditraina assumes they seem to have a festival where they dress in eccentric ways, so she thinks her attire will go unnoticed while she conducts her inquiries.
Go to Canalbrine. Upon entering, the Chosen One will find a crowd. A Sanctum Knight is attempting to hold them off while they investigate. A murder occurred in the middle of town before dawn, and the body was left lying there. The townspeople seem to recognize the victim: a merchant involved in shady businesses. They also mention they found a message next to the corpse, so they assume that El, the Phantom Thief, is behind it. The Chosen One asks them about this Phantom Thief. It seems this figure has struck fear among the corrupt aristocracy, so she is seen as a hero. She often leaves this message to sign her feats. People begin to speak of El as a champion of justice, but this annoys the Sanctum Knight, who finds the idea of a justice that murders people ridiculous. A red-haired knight approaches to inform Crick about the person who found body, but stops when she recognizes the Chosen One. She introduces herself as Mydia of the Sanctum Knights and introduces him to Crick, her companion.
Crick asks the Chosen One what their business in the city is. The knights are investigating serial murder cases occurring in recent days in Canalbrine. So far, there have been three incidents: first, a syndicate leader; second, a con man; and the most recent victim, a drug dealer. He feels ashamed these crimes are happening right in the eyes of the Sanctum Knights. Mydia asks him about the message left at the crime scene. He confirms it was the usual message from the Phantom Thief, but finds it strange the thief, who seems to have a no-murder policy, would recently start killing people. Whatever the reason, they can't allow these murders to continue. Mydia informs him this case would be too much for Crick to handle alone, but in the current situation, there are no knights who could help him. Crick is certain he can do it, but Mydia suggests asking the Chosen One for help. The travelers have no problem with helping him, so his mind is made up. Mydia decides to leave, as she has pending assignments. Crick informs the Chosen One the first person to see the body was a cleric, so they must go to the church to interrogate her. As they leave the scene, a young blonde woman in outlandish attire enters the scene, having witnessed everything.
In the church, a woman is already interrogating the cleric. The cleric explains she saw the corpse, as well as the knife stuck in his heart, and said scene gives her chills. The woman asks what she was doing so early in the morning. The cleric ask her her duty is to clean the church before the sunshine. A white cat approaches the cleric, and she begins to pet it. The Chosen One and Crick arrive at the place, and the woman seems to recognize the knight, informing him he is late. She is interrogating the cleric, so she asks them to wait. The woman resumes her interrogation. The cleric admits she had interacted with the victim the day before the incident. The man seems to be trying to hit on her, despite her being devoted woman, but she rejected his advances. She also reports hearing the man was involved in shady stuff, but, even if what happened can be considered divine punishment, it was too extreme and cruel, so she hopes the culprit is found soon.
Outside the church, Crick tells the woman it would be problematic to interfere with the Order's investigations, but the woman tells him not to jump to conclusions. Crick is surprised she knows his name, but she informs him she knew a knight was sent to Canalbrine to investigate the incident and the Order is short in manpower, so she just had to connect the dots. Introducing herself as Morena, she asks if they think the recent murder was the work of the Phantom Thief. Crick replies that is under investigation, but Morena have zero doubts: those crimes were not committed by her. Crick is intrigued to know why she's so sure about it, and Morena explains the recent incidents have been poorly planned and carried out, as if they were the work of an amateur. Furthermore, the Phantom Thief doesn't kill her victims. So she proposes someone is impersonating the Phantom Thief. Crick points out how much Morena seems to know about her, but she clarifies the Phantom Thief is her "prey," and she won't tolerate anyone murdering under that name. Morena leaves the scene, and Crick suggests starting by questioning people related to the victim.
Go to the town inn. Apparently, there's a scholar who owed the victim money. The knight questions him about the debt, but the scholar defends himself by saying as soon as his work was complete, he would pay him back. Uncomfortable with the interrogation, the scholar leaves the scene. Crick concludes that while the scholar may have murdered the victim to avoid paying the debt, he doesn't fit in the murders of the previous victims, so he rules him out as a suspect.
Go to the tavern. Supposedly, there's a bard who was a good acquaintance of the shady merchant who frequents the place. When Crick and the Chosen One enter the place, they find Morena interrogating a townsperson. Morena explains the bard, who isn't at the tavern, was complicit in the victim's shady businesses, making him a person of interest in the case. The group decides to ask the tavern's patrons about the bard. Go to the second floor of the tavern and further inquire about the gentleman there. He'll inform them the bard has fled the city. Apparently, he's scared of something. The group already has an idea of where to go, and Morena decides to accompany them, as the bard is an important lead in the investigation.
Go to the Western Canalbrine Coast. As the group advances, they hear a scream, so they rush to the scene. Upon arriving, they find a man, the bard, in a lake of blood and a woman in gaudy attire. Morena recognizes the woman as El, the Phantom Thief. Demanding her surrender, Crick draws his sword, and the thief draws her dagger in defense.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El the Phantom Thief | 65 | 191,091 | 8 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
Crick recognizes El's strength. She informs him she cannot be captured there. Morena asks why she is at the scene, as she is certain she was not the one who killed the man. The Thief only replies she will stop anyone who tries to harm the people of the continent. She also delivers a strange message: that man doesn't possess the Dreadborn Fragment, a message only the Chosen One understands. Crick demands more explanations from the Thief, but she disappears. Approaching the man and seeing he is dead, Crick curses his own helplessness, as he was unable to prevent another victim from emerging, but Morena tells him the case is far from over and they can only move forward.
After calming down, both Crick and Morena wonder why the Thief decided to appear at such a time and what she meant with the Dreadborn Fragment. Upon the Chosen One's explanation, both find the information difficult to digest, but if the Thief is referring to what the Chosen One describes, then it can't be a coincidence. Crick still wonders if that's possible, but Morena lectures him, saying bias is the enemy of reasoning and assumptions cloud judgment, so they must work with the information they have. The group decides to return to town, as Morena has some unfinished business there, and Crick is determined to catch the real culprit.
Return to the tavern. There, the party will review the current situation. The Chosen One suggests turning their attention to past victims: the case where a syndicate boss and a con man were murdered. Morena decides to investigate the con man's case, as there's something bothering her. The travelers and Crick will investigate the remaining one.
Go outside Canalbrine and set the time for night. There are three members of the murdered boss's family gathered there. Crick introduces himself as a Sanctum Knight who wants to hear their story about what happened to the boss, but the members tell him to get lost, it's none of his business. He certainly tried, but the Chosen One has a better idea: "Ask them nicely".
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syndicate Member A | 65 | 133,665 | 15 | | 2,000 | 2,700 | 10 | None |
| Syndicate Member B | 65 | 120,298 | 13 | | 2,000 | 2,700 | 10 | None |
| Syndicate Member C | 65 | 128,318 | 12 |  | 2,000 | 2,700 | 10 | None |
Upon hearing the members plead for mercy, the knight asks the Chosen One if they overdid it with their methods. Recovering, the blackrobes explain what they know: their boss, despite being a ruthless man, was a devout man who used to go to confession every night. One night, he simply left as usual, and the next day, his body appeared. The man was stabbed in the front, which doesn't make sense to the members, given their boss was overly cautious. The members say they've said enough and run away from the place. Crick connects the case to the previous ones by the same element: the victims were stabbed in the front with a dagger. Morena appears on the scene, showing a semi-burned note from the con man she found after searching his house. In it, the con man tells of how one of his victims committed suicide and he is now having nightmares about the victim's face. Consumed by guilt and remorse, he planned to go to church to confess his sins. Morena details the con man used to go after helpless women and trick them to get money from them. Since he had basically planned to confess, the truth is now apparent.
Go to the town center. There, Morena reviews the situation: three people were stabbed in the front. Given the affairs these people were involved in, it's impossible they weren't cautious enough of their surroundings, so a frontal attack could only come from someone...
(The Chosen One will have four options: A shadowy opponent, someone they don't like, a seemingly harmless person, or a stranger. A wrong answer will have different comments from Crick and Morena, but will take the player to the selection menu until the correct answer is chosen.)
The answer is a seemingly harmless person, from whom they wouldn't expect that kind of action. Morena mentions both the mafia leader and the scammer had planned to go to a common location. That location is the...
(4 options: Inn, Tavern, Smithy, and Church. As in the previous selection, a wrong answer will have different comments from Crick and Morena, but will take the player to the selection menu until the correct answer is chosen.)
The answer is, of course, the Church. Their bodies were found the next day after they apparently went to the Church. Crick mentions the merchant in shady stuff was murdered, but then stops, realizing something. Seems the perpetrator uses their saintly image to approach them without alarming them, so the culprit is likely...
(4 options: Cleric, Crick, Scholar, Morena. As in the previous selection, a wrong answer will have different comments from Crick and Morena, but will take the player to the selection menu until the correct answer is chosen.)
The culprit is, of course, the Cleric. It's time to pay a visit to the church.
The Cleric is standing next to the white cat. She is surprised to see the party visiting the church so late at night. When Crick asks her to accompany them for further interrogations, the cleric changes her expression, admitting she was responsible of their deaths. When Crick asks her why, the cleric snaps, asking why she isn't being praised for her actions. She claims to be killing the bad guys because she is El, the Phantom Thief. At that moment, the cleric is shrouded in a sinister aura, and the white cat flees the scene. The cleric begins demanding praise for her actions against evil, that she will kill all the bad guys in town, because she is the Phantom Thief. She flees to the docks, so the party chases her.
They find the cleric facing the real Phantom Thief. The cleric refuses to accept the one before her is El the Phantom Thief, as that name belongs to her, and if she is in her way, then she is evil that must be punished. El points out the Phantom Thief doesn't punish evil, but rather stops it. The group appears on the scene, with Morena harshly scolding the cleric for being a pitiful, delusional murderer who only seeks approval. The cleric becomes even more enraged, so she summons the power of the Dreadborn Fragment to transform into a beast. Claiming that fate gave her the Fragment and she is the only one who deserves all the praise in the world, she attacks the party.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleric the Dreadborn Demon | 65 | 320,796 | 25 | | 6,400 | 25,600 | 10 | None |
The Phantom Thief delivers the final blow, incapacitating her, so the Chosen One can finally recover the Dreadborn Fragment. Crick concludes the cleric was a victim of the Fragment, and Morena adds the cleric's desire was to be like her idol, so, feeling aversion to reality, she made a pact with the Fragment to become her. As El leaves the place, Crick thanks her for helping them, and Morena asks if she's been searching for the Fragment to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Elie simply replies she'll leave that up them, she only wants to protect the peace of the continent. After watching her leave, Morena asks Crick if he won't go after her, but Crick tells her he'll let it go for today, while Morena says she'll catch her someday no matter where she's from.
In Canalbrine, the Thief meets with Lebrandt. Welcoming her, the Chief Vassal reminds her of the dangerous and risky role she's playing. She replies someone had to take on that role and the Dreadborn Fragment is a danger no one should know about. Even though Lebrandt suggests she leave the case in the hands of the Chosen One, bearer of the Ring of the Flamebringer, El refuses to back down, believing the case isn't over yet.
Elsewhere, Ditraina mentions having discovered the Fragment's whereabouts and she doesn't intend to let it get away.
In the Shadows of October Fair[]
The villagers are discussing the upcoming event, the October Fair. As the Chosen One travels through the town, they hear Ditraina's voice, speaking to them via telepathy. She needs to tell them something, so she asks them to meet her outside the village.
Go to the coast. Ditraina will appear in her cat form, but will revert to it shortly. She congratulates the travelers on recovering one of the fragments, but the case is not over yet. Ditraina has been following a different signal than the one the Chosen One recovered: another fragment. She instructs this fragment is waiting for the opportunity where desires and greed overflow, so she predicts the Fragment will manifest at the October Fair.
The next day...
The October Fair has begun, and is taking place on Canalbrine Bridge. The Chosen One, Morena, and Crick arrive. The knight asks the travelers if the case is really not over yet, to which the Chosen One nods. It's very likely the Fragment is about to possess someone in the area, so they should be vigilant. Crick suggests speaking with the townspeople to find a possible suspect.
There are three marked villagers in the area. One of them laments he doesn't have a leaf in his name and no one pays attention to him. Another wishes he had a bigger tent so everyone would notice him. The last one wants to be the center of attention to win a girl's heart.
After interacting with them, the party regroups. Crick reports he hasn't seen anyone suspicious, and because the Fragment can possess anyone, it's difficult to know who will be the next victim. While they are talking, the "Cat" of Salvation appears, telling the party to hurry: the Fragment has chosen its victims. Crick and Morena can't believe the cat is talking, so while they're still amazed, the Chosen One go there first. At the festival, the three villagers they interacted with earlier are causing havoc while emitting a mysterious aura. The men are demanding attention, and they'll do anything to get it, even if it means killing someone. The people evacuate the area, and the party goes to the front to confront the mad merchants.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreadborn-Infected Merchant | 65 | 147,031 | 14 | | 3,000 | 4,050 | 10 | None |
| Dreadborn-Infected Townsperson A | 65 | 132,327 | 16 | | 3,000 | 4,050 | 10 | None |
| Dreadborn-Infected Townsperson B | 65 | 141,149 | 15 | | 3,000 | 4,050 | 10 | None |
After knocking them unconscious, Morena comments they were possessed by the Fragment just like the cleric. Crick reminds since as being insatisfied with their own reality and feel jealous of what they want to be turns anyone into a potential victim for the Fragment. The idea terrifies him, since basically most humans would fit, everyone can be tempted by it. The Chosen One proceeds to check the merchants, searching for the Fragment, but they don't have it. The "Cat" of Salvation tells them to not be fooled and reverts to her human form, further surprising Crick and Morena. The Witch of Salvation demands the Fragment to show itself, and a white cat appears. The group recognizes that cat: it's the same one that was with the cleric. Ditraina points the cat as the root of the problem. The Fragment took the form of a cat to go unnoticed, and the reason Ditraina disguised herself as a cat was to find it. Ditraina demands the Fragment show its true form, and the cat transforms into a reaper. The Reaper talks about how he's jealous of those who stand out and receive praise, so he'll take this world as his own before facing the party in battle.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval, the Dreadborn Reaper (Scripted) | 65 | 9,999,999 | 99 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
The party attacks aren't working. The Reaper urges them to give in to despair in order to grow stronger, and the team is enveloped in the mysterious aura. As they try to resist the Reaper's power, a voice claims she will stop everything that threatens the continent, and the Phantom Thief appears, attacking the Reaper by surprise. After realizing the nature of the Reaper's power, the group begins to strengthen their resolve. Ditraina uses purifying magic and dispel the remainder of the Reaper's influence, ready for round two.
| Name | Lv. | HP | |
Weak | Leaf | |
TP | Item (Droprate %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval, the Dreadborn Reaper | 65 | 267,330 | 99 | | 8,000 | 32,000 | 10 | None |
The Reaper is defeated, leaving the fragment in the hands of the Chosen One. As the group celebrates victory, only Morena notices that the Phantom Thief has left once again.
In Canalbrine, Mydia thanks the Chosen One on behalf of the Order for bringing peace to the town. A princess and her vassal approach. Crick recognizes her as Elrica, Princess of Edoras, and asks what she is doing in such distant lands. Elrica is there to visit foreign countries and forge diplomatic relations. She claims to have heard of the party's actions to protect peace, so she respects their courage. Morena approaches to tell her she's eager to see her "appear again", and Elrica replies she too hopes that day come soon. Elrica says goodbye, and Morena informs her she will be going as well. Mydia and Crick also have to go, but manage to say their goodbye to the Chosen One before leaving. Ditraina appears, asking the Chosen One if they said their goodbyes. She says it's time to correct the distortion, so together they seal the Dreadborn Fragment, and the world returns to its previous state.
The Chosen One meets Isla again, who congratulates them for solving another crisis. After consoling them, the Cait Scholar praises the travelers' detective skills, asking if they can help him find his writing quill if they have the time...
Part III[]
Side Story (Crossovers)[]
| Worlds | Stories | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VI | The Otherworldly Knight | The Dreadborn Fragment lay scattered across the land, connecting another world to this one. As if heralding this anomaly, a massive shadow soars across the skies above the travelers. |
| Dragon Quest III | The Otherworldly Arena | Greetings, travelers. Things have taken a turn for the worse. Please, we urgently request you to come to the Subterranean Arena! |
| Final Fantasy VI | TBA | TBA |
Trivia[]
- According to Ito Kosuke (CotC director), the Crossed Paths was created under the idea of expanding the twin worlds and developing characters barely appearing or not appearing at all in the main stories.[1]