Chapter III (Trials of Mana)

Chapter III
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Chapter III is the third chapter in the 3D version of Trials of Mana, and the third and final leg of the Chosen of the Mana Sword's quest for the eight Mana Spirits. Unlike the previous two chapters in the story, this portion is more open; the player is now able to control the order of events that take place. It begins in Valsena after the heroes' recovery from Beuca Island.

Story

Our heroes resume their search for the final four Mana Stones, infused with the powers of Lumina, Gnome, Sylphid, and Shade. With Vuscav now at their side, the Chosen and their party are free to explore the open sea.

One of the companions immediately suggests heading for the frozen wilds of the far north, seeing as the Waterstone is said to be near the castle city of Altena. Vuscav makes landfall near the hamlet of Alrant to the east. As it is brutally cold, the party decides to take shelter for the night.

The darkshine Knight confronting the Party near the Labyrinth of Ice

They set out across the Frostbite Fields the next morning, pelted by the icy winds and struggling to stay warm. Nevertheless, they must press on. As they trudge toward a snowfield south of Altena, however, the party meets an all-too-familiar foe. Duran still has questions about who or what this "Darkshine Knight" may be. Rather than give answers, the shadowy knight simply declares that the power of mana is to belong to the Dragon Lord. He again disappears, leaving three improved Altenish mechs in his wake. Although the three assailants make for a long and harrowing battle, the Chosen and company emerge victorious.

Finally reaching the Labyrinth of Ice, our heroes discover the Waterstone already activated. The Chosen, frustrated that their efforts have seemingly been for naught, proposes that they allow their foes to succeed. Faerie wastes no time objecting to the plan, ultimately convincing her charge to continue their journey. This turn of events catches the attention of Undine, who is moved to tears before she joins the party.

As the party carries on, they ride Vuscav to the southern edge of the world to reach the Burning Sands, nearest the Firestone. Their first stop on tour is the Desert Capital Sirhtan. Exchanging bitter cold for searing heat, they again take their rest by night.

The next morning, the trio makes the exhausting trek across the desert, nearly collapsing from heatstroke before they reach Diin. The oasis town as well is impacted by dwindling mana power, but our heroes are able to stock up on supplies before heading further south. As they approach the nearby Fiery Gorge, Belladonna sends Bill and Ben to create a diversion while she works her way to the Firestone within. Once again, the pair is fought and defeated. Belladonna is disgusted by their failure, and so decides to use their souls as fuel to activate the Firestone.

The heroes wind their way through the lower half of the lava-filled cavern, reaching the Firestone moments behind Belladonna. Having activated the Mana Stone, she has released Jessica from her curse. However, believing that the girl is still in danger, Hawkeye or fellow thief Niccolo rushes in and throws a drugged dart to distract her. Jessica is quickly evacuated and taken to Diin to recover from her ordeal. Meanwhile, Salamando appears and joins the heroes, hot-blooded as ever.

Ludgar being turned into a baby by Luna

The journey continues with the task of locating the Moonstone, said to lie near Duskmoon Forest south of Valsena. Vuscav ferries our heroes to the shores of Mintas, a village where man and beast live in harmony while cloaked in eternal night. From there, they explore the dense forest filled with glistening ponds to reach Chartmoon Tower to the northwest. When they arrive, the zombie jester Goremand appears before them, apparently having thwarted a raid from Altena. He prepares to consume the souls of the wounded before activating the Moonstone himself, a plan which draws a disgusted reaction from his beastman colleagues. Kevin enters as well, enraged by Goremand's deceit; he is quickly shoved aside with powerful magic as Goremand prepares to take his soul, though he is deemed too weak and therefore unworthy of such an act. With the party in witness, Goremand orders Ludgar to deal with them. Ludgar, blinded by his own rage and jealousy toward Kevin, is quickly overpowered. Yet, in his final moments, Luna, Spirit of the Moon, descends and grants Ludgar's last wish: to once again become strong enough to rival his young prince. Luna reverses Ludgar's time, the latter becoming a feral infant. After some discussion, Luna joins the heroes. The Moonstone safe for now thanks to the beastmen, the heroes continue their quest.

To the northwest of Valsena lies the Lampbloom Woods, below the Woods of Wandara that house the Woodstone. Once more, Vuscav shuttles the Chosen and their party to a beach nearby. Luna is intrigued by the growth of vegetation standing before them, but nonetheless offers to dispel said growth and allow the party to move forward. Here they may catch up with the half-elf Charlotte, who apparently fought numerous monsters prior to arriving. Whether she is in the party or not, Charlotte provides a valuable clue for the heroes, as this was once her home: the red blooms visible at night will light the path to the hidden elfin enclave of Dior.

As our heroes approach the village, they are greeted with a deafening silence; it is long held that elves do not speak with outsiders. Left with little choice, the party proceeds to the manor on the western edge. Therein, they find the Elfin Elder, who is understandably surprised that humans have come. The heroes and Faerie explain their purpose, to which the Elder responds with Charlotte's origin story. Shocked to learn the truth of her circumstances, Charlotte retreats to another room to cry. The others comfort her, and the Elder orders his people to assist the Chosen with such things as they may need. In the process, he also grants passage to the northern reach of the forest; and so, the party heads there.

In a clearing, the trio encounters a vicious plant monster that they fight and defeat. The last of the Spirits, Dryad, appears. She is revered as the most powerful of the elementals:, but is also timid and cowardly. Though she holds that her weakness allowed the fiend to capture her, Dryad is spurred on to join by the party.

With the eight gathered at last, our heroes proceed to Oblivisle to open the portal to the Sanctuary. What awaits them there is yet unknown.

Story Variations

Depending on which playable characters the player has chosen, the following events may or may not happen.

Objectives

• Search for the elementals.
• Search for the elemental of the moon.
• Head to Lampbloom Woods.
• Find the Elfin Elder.
• Go to the mana statue.
• Search for the elemental of wood.

Chain Abilities Learned

• More Encounters (optional) (with Matelo)
• Kindness (optional & leader Angela only) (with Chirry)
• Spell Shield (optional & Hawkeye only) (with Merchant)
• Beast Roar (Kevin only) (with Ludgar)
• Less Encounters (optional & Charlotte only) (with Elfin Elder)

Character Debuts

• Undine (Labyrinth of Ice)
• Salamando (Fiery Gorge)
• Goremand (Chartmoon Tower, everyone except Kevin & Charlotte)
• Luna (Chartmoon Tower)
• Elfin Elder (Dior)
• Dryad (Lampbloom Woods)

Returning Characters

• Darkshine Knight (Frostbite Fields)
• Merchant (optional) (Sirhtan)
• Bil & Ben (Burning Sands)
• Belladonna (Burning Sands)
• Ludgar (Chartmoon Tower)

Bosses Fought

• Machine Golem S (x3) (Frostbite Fields)
• Bil & Ben (Burning Sands)
• Beast Ludgar (Chartmoon Tower)
• Grapplavine (Lampbloom Woods)

Visited Locations

• Alrant
• Frostbite Fields
• Labyrinth of Ice (entrance only)
• Sirhtan
• Burning Sands
• Diin
• Fiery Gorge
• Mintas
• Duskmoon Forest
• Chartmoon Tower (entrance & first floor only)
• Lampbloom Woods
• Dior