Granblue Story Archives

The crew's map pieces create a path of light, dividing the Grim Basin's miasma in two. They start down the path on the way to the fortress.

Vyrn

So this is it...

Having received a map piece from the primal beast Dykotomus, the crew draws nearer to the Grim Basin.

Rackam

The miasma looks pretty thick from here. It's broad daylight, but I can't see a thing.

Hal

The miasma's only one of our worries. The winds inside are strong enough to push back the airship.

Hal

A miasma wall that divides the skies...
That's the Grim Basin.

Sturm

Enough of the chit-chat. The miasma's thick enough here already. We don't need a speech about it.

Sturm

The light is pointing that way, so Drang should be up ahead.

Sturm squeezes the glowing object in her hand as she speaks.

Katalina

The miasma is harmful, they say... But we can't stay here any longer. Gran and Lyria, are you ready?

Lyria

R-roger!

Dialogue Option

I'm pretty nervous...

Lyria

Ah... Me too. Even though I knew our journey would bring us here one day.

Dialogue Option

Let's go already!

Vyrn

I knew you wouldn't flinch at a time like this.

Vyrn

But we knew our journey would bring us here one day! I see why you're rarin' to go!

Gran and Lyria pull out the ten map pieces from a satchel.

Lyria

I feel a strong force... As if they're amplifying each other's power.

The map pieces in Gran and Lyria's hands begin to glow, lighting the area around them.

The light from the map pieces flashes instantaneously, piercing through the miasma before the crew.

Hal

The Grim Basin... It's...

As if inviting Gran and the crew, the light parts the Grim Basin in two.

Katalina

So this is the power of the map pieces...

Rackam

Oh... But the miasma is as thick as ever.

Lyria

It's like... a path. A path through the Grim Basin.

Vyrn

I wonder how far this thing goes... Is there another skydom up ahead?

Realizing the gravity of Vyrn's words, they stare at the path in a quiet daze.

Sturm

Who knows? The light is guiding us ahead, and that's where Drang is waiting.

Sturm

We've finally found a way forward, Gran. Now let's hurry and save that annoying jerk already!

Hal explains that the miasma is harmful to people, but energizes monsters. Lyria worries about the force controlling Dykotomus.

The crew continues through the miasma down the path opened by the map pieces.

Rackam

The Grim Basin is supposed to be the wall bordering the skydoms, but this is a pretty thick wall.

Katalina

It's a wall that divides the skies, not a barrier protecting cities or houses.

Katalina

But to think that the miasma here would be this thick...

Katalina looks around at the miasma that perpetuates the darkness surrounding them.

Katalina

Without the map pieces, we'd have stumbled over each other in only a few steps.

Sturm

Humph. As much as I appreciate the visual commentary...

Monster

Groarrr!

Monster

Groar!

Sturm

Don't forget that there are monsters here. Stay vigilant.

Vyrn

Now that you mention it, doesn't the miasma power up the monsters?

Hal

He's right. Breathing the miasma in large amounts has harmful effects on people...

Hal

But for monsters it's the opposite. The miasma revitalizes them.

Hal

This is another reason that the Grim Basin is said to divide the skies.

Sturm

Tch... That explains why the monsters here are so active.

Sturm seems annoyed as she takes a breath before cautiously eyeing the path ahead.

At that moment Lyria begins to worry, her eyes cast downward.

Lyria

...

Katalina

What's wrong? Are you all right, Lyria?

Lyria

Well, um... I'm not sure...

Rackam

Not sure? About what?

Lyria

I can't stop worrying... about Dykotomus and the way it behaved.

Lyria

I just know... Someone was controlling it somehow.

Lyria

But who? And why?

Vyrn

And it was a primal beast too. It makes you wonder how...

Rackam

And we're more used to everything going against us rather than for us.

Rackam

If someone was forcing that thing to hand over a map piece...

Rackam

Then it means that someone is trying to help us on our journey.

Rackam

But that's still a mystery. It kind of gives you the chills...

Katalina

If it's someone with good intentions, then we should be fine.

Katalina

But it does give me a bit of a sinking feeling... Keep your guard up, Gran.

After fighting monsters along the path through the Grim Basin, the crew finds the Istavion Troop fortress guarded by golems. They decide that to break in they'll have to fight them head on.

Sturm

There it is.

Gran and the crew continue through the Grim Basin, guided by the light of the map pieces.

While fighting back the monsters energized by the miasma, they discover the fortress.

Sturm

There... It's pointing toward that fortress. Without a doubt Drang must be inside.

Vyrn

We really are inside the Grim Basin, huh? Why'd they go to all the trouble of building a fortress in a place like this?

Hal

Because it's hard to attack. It may very well be the most superior fortress ever built.

Katalina

The Istavion Troop fortress... I hope we can find Io and the others here.

Rackam

If there's a chance, we'll just have to take it and find out for ourselves.

Rackam

But it looks like they've still got lookouts posted, even for a fortress like this.

Rackam points to the golems circling the perimeter of the fortress.

Golem

...

Katalina

What do you say, Gran? Shall we check the perimeter for a place to sneak in?

Sturm

Without a layout of the fortress, we'll be found out in no time.

Sturm

But if we have to go up against those golems, it'd be better to hit them before they hit us...

Sturm

Look, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Just be ready for a fight, Gran!

Overhearing the frenzy caused by the crew's invasion, Drang and the others break out of their cell. The Golden Knight silently watches them escape, but she makes a proposal to Drang just before he leaves.

Istavion Soldier 1

What! Who are you! How'd you get into the fortress!

Sturm

Outta my way!

Istavion Soldier 1

Nghh!

Sturm

Where's Drang? Answer me! No more stalling!

After taking down the golem guards, the crew breaks into the Istavion Troop fortress through the main gate.

Istavion Soldier 2

What in the blazes is going on! We're in the middle of the Grim Basin here! How'd those sneaks get in?

Istavion Soldier 3

How should I know? At any rate we've got to inform the Golden Knight...

Istavion Soldier 3

Agh!

Rackam

Good grief... Looks like they weren't prepared for intruders here.

Vyrn

Why bother? It's the Grim Basin. I doubt they get a lot of visitors.

Katalina

Regardless we don't have the energy to fight every single soldier here. Let's get in and out quickly!

Istavion Soldier 4

The intruders are moving through the west corridor on the first floor! Engage them before they get underground!

Istavion Soldiers

Roger!

With Gran and the crew having invaded, the Istavion Troop is on the alert, hurriedly running about the fortress.

Meanwhile Io and the others, still locked within a dungeon cell, watch the scene unfold before them.

Everyone's gone. What's going on?

Drang

Heheheh... Sounds like help has finally arrived.

Orchid

Gran and the crew?

Drang

Well, I can't say for sure. But we're in the Grim Basin, right? That means they're extraordinary invaders.

Eugen

Ha-ha! You got that right! They're the only ones who'd dare come here. And the only ones who could pull it off too.

Rosetta

Indeed. Gran's will reminds me of someone I once knew.

Amidst the excitement Drang claps his hands together and makes a proposal to the others.

Drang

Well now! Why don't we join them?

Drang

Sturm will be fuming if she finds us sitting around waiting.

Drang strolls over to the door of the cell.

Huh? Join them? What about the lock?

Drang

Heheh... Leave the lock to me.

Drang takes the cell lock in his hands and begins to fiddle with it.

Drang

Jiggle it here... Give it a twist there...

Drang

Voila!

Orchid

Wow...

Drang gently pushes the cell door and it swings open before them.

Rosetta

You sure are handy...

If you could've done this already, then what was the point in us coming here to rescue you?

Drang

Hold on, now! I really was being held captive!

Drang

Even if I escaped, the Grim Basin's right outside the door...

Drang

...

Orchid

What's wrong?

Drang

Hm? Heheh... My lips are sealed.

Orchid

They're sealed?

Drang

Never you mind! Now let's catch up with Sturm and the others! Come on, shake a leg!

All right!

Drang hurries everyone out of the cell but lingers inside for a moment before following them.

Drang

Well now...

Drang gives a big stretch before facing toward the corridor opposite to where everyone escaped.

Drang

That was mighty kind of you to let us go without a word... Golden Knight.

Drang's words echo into the darkness.

As if reacting to his voice, the Golden Knight slowly appears before him.

Golden Knight

I have no desire to call in a favor because of this.

Golden Knight

But if you feel the need to pay me back, then I won't discourage that.

Drang

Hm... I guess I'll think about it if you let me go too.

Golden Knight

Well, that's up to you.

Drang

Huh?

Golden Knight

I acknowledge your talents. So... how about a little job proposal?

The Golden Knight Alliah smiles coolly.

With his interest now piqued, Drang returns her smile with a sly grin.

The crew is reunited, but Drang is the last to appear. Just as they all escape the fortress, Anissida and Hailak challenge them to battle.

Lyria

Io! Orchid! Eugen and Rosetta!

Orchid

...!

Lyria!

Gran and the crew are excited to reunite safe and sound since the avalanche that separated them.

Lyria

I'm so glad everyone is okay!

Eugen

You betcha! Orchid here fired up her golem Lloyd just in time to guard us.

Rosetta

Without Orchid's quick thinking, things might've been even worse for us.

Orchid

...

Orchid looks proud at first, but suddenly she bows her head to Gran.

Orchid

I'm sorry, Gran... I couldn't save you and the others in time...

Dialogue Option

Don't sweat it.

Orchid

Thank you. You're too kind, Gran.

Dialogue Option

You did great.

Orchid

It's all thanks to Lloyd. I've had so many people protect me all this time.

Orchid

But now... I want to be the one who protects everyone.

Katalina

Well what's important is that we're back together. To think you were all here in the fortress, just as Hal predicted.

Now that you mention it, who's that?

Io looks puzzled as she points to Hal, who stands beside Gran.

Rackam

This is a resident of Silverwind Stretch. He saved our hides back there, and now we're carrying out a request for him.

Hal

Heheh...

A request?

Sturm

We'll explain later. But right now...

Sturm looks around at everyone carefully before continuing.

Sturm

Where's Drang?

What? He's...

Io looks around in a panic.

Huh? But he unlocked the cell and helped us escape.

I thought he was following right behind us.

Vyrn

Wait a sec. Did he go off somewhere on his own?

Or maybe he got caught by some soldiers along the way?

Sturm

...!

In an instant Sturm sprints in the direction where Io and the others came from.

But before she can get very far, a familiar mellow voice calls out to her from behind.

Drang

Sturm... Where are you off to in such a rush?

Sturm

...!

Katalina

Well look at that... It seems you've made it all this way without a scratch.

Drang

I suppose. I was taking a little solo tour of the fortress and got lost, you see...

Drang smiles innocently as he scratches his nose.

Drang

I'm sorry, Sturm. I bet you were so worried about me...

Sturm

...

Sturm wordlessly walks over to Drang.

Drang stretches out his arms in answer.

Drang

Sturm...

Drang

Ouch! Come on! What's that for!

Sturm

Don't say that... Don't apologize to me. I'm the one who should apologize to you.

Sturm hangs her head as the words tumble from her lips.

Sturm

They knocked me out in one blow back there on Zinkenstill. I couldn't even protect you...

Sturm

A weak agent is a worthless agent. I fell short of my duty...

Sturm

I truly... failed you.

Drang

...

Drang

So um... you whacked me with your sword because why?

Drang

Oww! What's that for? What's the big idea!

Sturm

It's embarrassing! Don't make me say it, you idiot!

Gran and the crew are pleased to see the two agents teasing each other once again.

Lyria

Looks like they're back to their old selves!

Vyrn

Give it a rest... They just found each other and they're already quibbling.

Rosetta

But it would seem we don't have much time to waste here.

The sound of marching footsteps grows louder as it echoes from the corridor.

Rackam

We're smack dab in the middle of the enemy's den after all.

Rackam

Well we got who we came for! Let's hurry and scoot outta here!

Lyria

Huff... Huff...
It's only a little ways to go from here!

Gran and the crew escape the Istavion Troop fortress, fighting off waves of soldiers along the way.

But suddenly a voice calls out to them from behind.

Anissida

You didn't think I'd let you off that easy, did ya?

Sturm

It's you!

Hailak

That was a close one for us... We never suspected you would try to break in.

Rackam

Hah. Of course we would. When it comes to saving our friends, we don't care where it leads us.

Rackam

There's no place we wouldn't go. That's what it means to be a friend.

Anissida

Hm? Well now, this is unexpected...

Anissida looks over Hal, who's seems to be bracing himself.

Anissida

Well whatever. I'll find out what I wanna know after I capture you.

Anissida

So let me guess... You're the Primal Killer's kid, right?

Rosetta

Don't you dare call him that! You have no right!

Dialogue Option

Primal Killer?

Anissida

Hm? I guess you don't know about that, then.

Anissida

Makes sense... But if you come along with me I might be able to fill ya in.

Vyrn

Whoa there! You think we'd go along with you after you captured our friends?

Anissida

Ha ha! Relax. I know you won't fall for that. No need to get all worked up.

Dialogue Option

Let's calm down.

Rosetta

You're right... I lost control of myself for a second.

Rosetta

But even I, Gran, believe some things are unforgivable...

Rosetta

No matter who you are, I'll not allow you to insult that man's journey or his achievements!

Hailak

At any rate, I suppose you won't be surrendering here quietly then.

Hailak

Ah well... It's not as if we had our hopes up in the first place.

Hailak

But if you intend to resist, then we'll just have to force you into submission.

Hailak

I'll ask you once again. As it seems you have no intention of surrendering...

Anissida

Ugh, come on... You're always beating around the bush. With that habit you'll be single forever, you know.

Hailak

Anissida! Now hold on! That has nothing to do with this!

Anissida

You're right... But you really do beat around the bush.

Anissida

They came all this way to a fortress in the Grim Basin to rescue their friends. Of course they're not giving up here! Right?

With a quiet defiance, Gran nods at Anissida.

Anissida

Right! That's all we needed to know! So let's end the jabbering.

Anissida

We'll battle this out with everything we've got!

After defeating Anissida and Hailak, the crew escapes back into the Grim Basin. The Golden Knight orders scouts to track them and discover where Hal returns to.

Anissida

Nghh! No!

Katalina

Let's get out of here! We're not here to settle any scores!

Anissida and Hailak collapse after the battle, giving Gran and the crew a chance to run.

Hailak

Nghh! If there's anyone left standing, go after them! You must...

Golden Knight

No. There's no need.

The Golden Knight appears before Hailak.

Golden Knight

There's no need to fight them. Send scouts to follow them instead, and make sure they remain unnoticed.

Hailak

What? But they should be exhausted by now, so if we chase them...

Golden Knight

I said there's no need. Everything is under control.

Hailak

I see...

Anissida

...

Golden Knight

We have no use for them right now. Instead...

The Golden Knight stares at the shadows growing smaller in the distance.

Golden Knight

Track that Draph child. We'll find out where he's returning to without him suspecting a thing.

Istavion Soldiers

Roger!

With the Golden Knight's orders, several soldiers set off stealthily in pursuit of the crew.

Anissida

What's the meaning of all this, Ally?

Golden Knight

That Erune agent you brought here was quite a lucky find.

Golden Knight

But something much more interesting has caught my eye...

Golden Knight

In other words, putting a fortress here is finally about to pay off.

The crew has long disappeared, but the Golden Knight looks pleased as she gazes into the distance.

Greed flickers in her eyes. But they are not cast upon Gran and the crew.

North Vast, Silverwind Stretch