Paramina Rift (North)

I hope Vaan and his exposed midriff are ready for this chilly, chilly mountain pass.  The music, the lighting, and the posture of the non-player characters all suggest a place of desperation.  This does not seem like a place where one would want to be despite the excellent powder and choice ski trails.  The entire mood that is evoked at this part of the game is very well done. 

Progress: FADING VALE > HEAD OF THE SILVERFLOW > FREEZING GORGE.

FADING VALE:
Talk to the pig refuge, he is so desperate that he resorts to Engrish: “When Newcomers WHAT can’t walk on their own arrive...” – come on Square Enix, that’s SNES quality talk.

|| Hour - 27:24 ||

The goal for now is to head up to Mt. Bur-Omisace.  So take every northern path to get to your destination.

HEAD OF THE SILVERFLOW:

Cut scene:  A group of refuges slowly trudge up the snowy mountain path.  Balthier makes a little speech criticizing the Empire who is indulgent and won’t pay for shoes for the refugees.  Larsa whines that he is working for peace and trying to solve this.  To prove his point, Larsa says his dad will choose peace. Balthier counters that “you can never know another, not even your father.”  Daddy issues Balthier? (see Oedipus).  Larsa reacts the best way a little Emperor could – by pouting.  I have a feeling Larsa won’t be sending Hi-Potions to Balthier any more.  

Cut Scene: Flash to the Emperor’s corner office – it looks like a level from Mortal Kombat 3.  Vayne is talking to his father, the Emperor, and is discussing his plans to dissolve the senate.  The Emperor criticizes Vayne’s jump to violence.  Vayne looks up at the Solidor-crest hanging behind the Emperor’s desk and mentions the sword in it as proof that sometimes Solidor must use the violence to its benefit. 

The Emperor kind of changes the subject by asking Vayne if this is his attempt to get back at the Senate for pulling him out of command in Dalmasca.  Vayne counters that it is not vengeance but necessity.  Sometimes there is no other choice but remove an entire branch of government.  Vayne says that they need to do this so that Larsa can have an easier time when he is Emperor.  The Emperor realizes that sometimes to keep the empire running there needs to be someone to do the dirty work.  Then the Emperor asks "Do you know where our gold plated dishes are?"

Featured prominently behind the Emperor’s desk is the seal of House Solidor.  Notice how it has a large sword running down the center of two intertwined snakes.  As Vayne mentioned, this sword symbolizes the violence that the family must use sometimes to preserve its own.  Larsa wears the same Solidor seal around his neck.  Except for one thing.  The sword down the middle is missing.  This is an important omission and it symbolizes the peaceful approach that Larsa takes instead of the violent methods Vayne is so fond of. 

 Violent Vayne's Seal of Solidor with a sword
 Pragmatic Larsa's Seal of Solidor missing a sword