Game:

Dragon Quest Swords (2007)

Duration: 10:24

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2

So we're here... a nondescript little spit of mountainside save for some rather random-seeming outcroppings, as if framing the scene without any real reasonable explanation from a purely natural standpoint... Well, Fleurette? Where's this mask you thought you saw but we know to be elsewhere, huh?

No, wait, no time for that, a random gust of wind approaches! Fleurette had sense enough to cover her period inappropriate miniskirt and THEN scream in surprise. Priorities, you understand.

Thus, we are met by the late Deathbringer's minion of a nonspecific nomenclature or stature.. one should hope that it's just a placeholder until we're better acquainted, but I don't recall either of the previous bosses getting such treatment, so I guess that's all we get here...

Of interesting note, I suppose is that the Deathbringer is indeed regarded as dead, but his various underlings are still roaming about in who knows what capacity... I guess it's just a matter of the fact that I haven't been one to trust the idle lips of villagers in a kingdom not quite right as to the fate of its once great and terrible foe, least of all because those directly involved are either gone, missing, or never actually speak of it...

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This video title refers to the fact that this generically-named "Envoy of Xiphos" is for all intents and purposes a recolor for the much more series-famous Jamirus, one of the Dread Fiends of Dragon Quest VI. Of course, there are more than a few palette swaps of many given significant bosses, even (or rather, especially) within their own games of origin, so it's not like this is at all unique... but Dragon Quest Swords is obviously the kind of game to heavily present other famous series assets in a different fashion from its forebears, so this is pretty much the given "function" of the Envoy all the same, since it would be "impossible" for such a significant and singular creature to cross dimensional bounds like so in any canonical sense.

And now I'll finally consent to using some of my precious items since I know this is probably the most appropriate of all times to go ahead and bust them out... Fleurette can have some magic again at long last, and that poor little shield is allowed to regain its full form... mostly because it'll help quite a bit to have a little more leeway on where to block when I'm entirely unsure where and when an attack might arrive.

Also to that effect, we have Fleurette's overeager execution of the newly-learned Magnishield spell... which, ordinarily, I'd be kinda annoyed to have MP wasted on instead of keeping it in reserve for healing, but at least it lets us see what its effects are firsthand. I still say that casting more healing spells instead would've been the much more cost-efficient. Plus there's the benefit of having someone just look after the HP while I'm trying to focus on the battle...

Anyway, the envoy cuts a far less imposing figure than our good buddy Briquet, and while the attacks might seem to lack substance, no time is wasted in getting straight to the point and unleashing a one-two (or five) flurry of ferocious swipes. The problem with this method is... well, it only actually has two fixed patterns for the longer set, and while you'll likely get knocked around a couple times figuring it out, it won't particularly pose a problem after that point except for trying to figure out which of the two has been selected.

Aside from that, we have the ability to call in reinforcements and a projectile blast of wind... tactics contrary to one's own survival since the shot can be reflected (although it's a bit of a losing gamble given its speed and apparent difference in effectiveness by target), Orcs can provide experience and items, and the Rockbombs will provide the most damaging counteroffensive short of a Master Stroke... though I might also hazard that the wounds inflicted on our foul feathered foe would probably have been a shade more equitable if I wasn't fighting with an (alleged) abacus.

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Our ultimate reward for such a climactic and conveniently placed roadblock is a glimpse at long last at what Fleurette had hoped to see here, it's a CARVING that features the mask... and how anybody was supposed to make that out at such a distance as seen by a child over so long a distance so many years ago, it's beyond me how she recalled anything at all. And then she forgot and remembered as quick as you please... like right now, oh boy!

So this indicates that, contrary to my original gibing remarks, this Deathbringer really is some manner of supernatural foe and is apparently furthermore gifted with the boon talent of resurrection, which is a must for any serious conquering evil overlord. Besides, it's one thing to bring death, but you also ought to have some manner of answer for it yourself.

Now, the REAL question is what's up with the disparity of scale here? If Xiphos is some manner of burly giant wearing a mask, how is it that the queen can wear it so comfortably?

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