Duran's Introduction

Duran's Introduction
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Duran's Introduction is the prologue and introductory chapter of Duran, one of the six playable characters in the 3D version of Trials of Mana.

It is exclusive to the character, meaning that players should include Duran as a party member if they wish to experience this chapter, either as the main character or by playing during a Flashback Chapter.

Story

Duran competing in the tournament

Our story starts with Duran competing for the finals in the Sword Mastery Tournament in the youth division against his training partner Bruiser in Castle Valsena presided over by none other than the Hero King Richard. This fight serves as the Battle Tutorial and is eventually won by Duran, who is declared the new champion by the King. Duran is a soldier and son of the late Golden Knight Loki who went missing after a successful attempt to eradicate the Dragon Lord.

During the final battle alongside King Richard, Loki fell into an abyss with the Dragon Lord and couldn't be found. Duran's mother, Simone, overcome with grief after being told the painful news by Richard, immediately fainted from an illness she had kept secret for months and died shortly after. Her sister Stella promised to take care of young Duran and Wendy. During a night shift as a castle guard, Duran dozes off, only to be awakened by a loud noise coming from below. As he turns around, he sees an unknown robed figure leaving many soldiers wounded. He chases after the robed man, eventually confronting him. The man reveals himself as a powerful wizard and starts casting powerful Fireball spells on Duran.

Duran confronting the Crimson Wizard

The wizard deals a serious blow to Duran, mocking him for his feebleness. Before the robed man can deal a decisive blow to Duran, Valsenan soldiers are alerted to his presence and come to his vicinity, prompting the magical user to vanish after telling Duran that this kingdom might be easy to conquer after all. The day after the incident, the Hero King calls for an emergency meeting with his best knights to assess the situation. Seeing that his men are restless and itching to retaliate by mounting a full-scale attack on Altena, the King orders them to calm down since there is no definitive proof that Altena sent the intruder. While opting for a more careful plan, Richard is still in disbelief that Valda, the True Queen of Altena, would attack Valsena.

Meanwhile, Duran is moping about his defeat at the local tavern while Wendy, his little sister, tries to get him into bed since his wounds are still healing. When she doesn't seem to garner a meaningful response from her older brother, she storms out of the tavern, shouting that she hates him. Upon seeing his sister leaving, Duran then takes a walk around town in an attempt to change his mood.

Duran meeting the Fortune-Teller

After gathering info from the villagers, Duran heads to the local Fortune-teller. The fortune teller tells Duran that people's lives are 99 percent destiny, but the rest of our future is always shaped by our will. She calls that 1 percent "hope." She then proceeds to use her crystal ball to predict the right path for Duran to take, angering the young man in the process. He replies that he only believes in strength and he'll only listen to her if she tells him how to become more powerful. Visibly taken aback by his rudeness, the fortune-teller tells Duran to head to Holy City Wendel to ask the Priest of Light how to switch his class. This gives Duran the idea to leave Valsena and go on his journey to become stronger. He returns home to pack his belongings and leaves early in the morning while his aunt Stella and Wendy are still asleep.

Duran is stopped outside by his aunt, who is standing by the porch with a bronze sword in her hands. She tells him it was his father's when he was young. She also prompts Duran to seek an audience with the King before leaving for good. After bidding each other farewell, the young soldier meets with the Hero King in his throne room to discuss his need to travel to Wendel. Duran tells Richard that he's feeling remorseful after being utterly powerless against the Crimson Wizard and that he has no plan to return home before taking down the sorcerer. The King acknowledges and gives his blessing to Duran for a safe travel. After Duran takes his leave from the throne room, Richard comments to himself that he is proud to see how the young man acts like his father.

Duran swearing to defeat the Crimson Wizard

Duran then leaves his hometown and ventures into Molebear Moors. Shortly after he is seen crossing the large bridge at Stonesplit Gap. Here, he vows to defeat the Crimson Wizard, and then proceeds to take a ship heading to Jadd Stronghold.

Major Events

• Duran wins the Sword Mastery Tournament, youth division, by defeating his longtime sparring partner, Bruiser.
• The Crimson Wizard snoops around Castle Valsena during the night and attacks several soldiers, killing them in the process. Duran engages the mysterious wizard in a duel but easily loses to his powerful magic.
• The Hero King Richard summons his Golden Knights to an emergency meeting following the attack.
• Duran visits the local Fortune-teller, who tells him to go to Wendel and ask the Priest of Light to switch his class.
• Duran prepares to leave Valsena in the early morning but is caught by his aunt Stella. She gives him his late father's bronze sword as a memento.
• Duran visits the Hero King Richard to declare his intent to journey to Wendel to get stronger.
• Duran leaves Valsena through the Molebear Moors and eventually makes his way to Jadd Stronghold.

Objectives

• Chase after the interloper!
• Explore the surrounding town.
• Head to the fortune-teller.
• Get ready for your journey.
• Leave Valsena.
• Travel through Molebear Moors.
• Traverse Stonesplit Gap.

Character Debuts

• Duran
• Hero King Richard
• Bruiser
• Loki
• Simone
• Stella
• Crimson Wizard
• Wendy
• Fortune-teller

Bosses Fought

• Bruiser (Tutorial)
• Wizard (Scripted Fight)

Visited Locations

• Castle Valsena
• Valsena
• Molebear Moors (Eastern part only)
• Stonesplit Gap (Western part only)