On to Ondore

This is cool: if you talk to the people in the airport they refer to Vaan as Basch because of that yelling stunt he pulled the last time he was in Bhujerba. 

Leave the Aeordrome and head to the red X.  Talk to the guards there. 

Cut Scene: Ashe recounts to the Marques what happened after the night the Dalmascan Emperor was killed.  She says that Vossler hid her.  Vayne played the Marquis against Ashe by having him provide a fishy suicide story.  Ashe could not trust the Marquis if he was making up stories about suicide for the empire.  She urges him to makeup so that they can stand together against Vayne.  The Marquis is her uncle but he will not stand up to her because at this point she has no credibility.  Look at the glossy-eyed Basch in the background – I think all of this is going right over his head.

Balthier breaks in requesting food and a bath.  I think he intends the bath for Basch – his hair is looking extra crusty since Lhusu mine.

The Strahl: Vaan catches Ashe playing with the Strahl’s buttons.  She intends to use the ship to get the Dawn Shard to prove her royal lineage.  She is frustrated by the Marquis’ inaction and will do anything to get her kingdom back.  Balthier finds them and demonstrates his magic microphone that can make voices sound like someone else’s.  Ashe begs Balthier to take her to where she wants to go.  Eventually everyone is there and everyone has a reason to seek the dawn shard.

Imperial City of Archades:  Pan up of a long phallic spire.  A Ship lands on a dock and Judge Gabranth exits then sashays down the bridge to the building. 

The emperor asks about Doctor Cid and his weapons research.  Judge Gabranth tells him that Vayne is funding research and there is some strange stuff going on – The emperor does not like this.  The Emperor starts coughing and says that the illness will claim him. 

The Emperor asks Gabranth about his advice as to who will succeed him as emperor: the psychopath Vayne or the little turd Larsa.  Gabranth explains that he is loyal to the Empire and despite his home being raped and pillaged, he is a total Empire stooge – even enough to kill his own brother.  The Emperor likes Gabranth’s Ruthlessness.  However, The Emperor does not want Larsa to be such a nutcase yes man.  He tells Gabranth to be Larsa’s protector even if it is Vayne who attacks.