Trial of Heart
“A tricky thing, it must be said, to bear your heart. For love and trust betrayed can cut souls to the quick.”
—Gameplay Tips, Akira
The Trial of Heart is one of the seven Trials found within the final chapter, The Dominion of Hate. Unlike the other trials, no physical entrance to the Trial of Heart exists anywhere in the land. It is only accessible through Akira's Teleport command, his unique variation of the Flee command. Teleporting from battle has a random chance to warp the party to this otherwise unknown location.
The eternally bound souls of the departed pervade the silent, mournful halls of this trial, unable to find escape from the land of sin. Akira's ultimate weapon, the Guts and Glory Glove, may be found at the end of their sorrow.
Appearance
The Trial of Heart is a stronghold of ancient, crumbling stone brick. Sleek Doric columns prop up the ceiling, while the floor is surrounded with bottomless pits and dotted with small grates. A system of canals snake throughout the complex, kept flowing by lion fountain heads. The halls are illuminated with purple-flamed candles.
Overview
The party begins the dungeon having been warped to one of several small annexes. Within the desolate walkways of the stronghold, several wells can be found, each one holding a formless blue wisp. Examining these wisps will conjure the spirit of an inhabitant of the former Kingdom of Lucrece. The spirits are incapable of speaking; Akira must use his ability to read minds to hear their thoughts. After reading their minds, the spirit will dissipate back into flame.
- The members of the Royal Guard are the most common of the spirits, all believing Oersted had been the Lord of Dark from the start.
- The King of Lucrece mourns the fall of his kingdom, placing the burden on himself.
- The Minister too regards the former knight as the dreaded archon.
- The boy of Fugalia Village, despite everything, refuses to believe Oersted could be the Lord of Dark.
- Streibough solemnly ponders his role in events, wondering if he is the one responsible for Oersted's downfall.
- Hasshe notes that Oersted's misanthropy now exceeds even his own.
- Uranus can only express disappointment, at himself and at everything that has occurred.
At the very bottom of the dungeon lies a large chamber, where the Guts and Glory Glove sits on a pedestal. On claiming the glove, the spirit of Princess Alethea manifests before the party. She pleads with the party to stop Oersted, before an exit portal opens alongside her. It is the only escape from the trial; taking it will warp the party to the courtyard of the Seat of the Betrayers.
The Trial of Heart is an unrevisitable location. Once the party has left via the exit portal, it cannot be reentered, Teleport or otherwise.
Treasures
- Demon Blood Armor x1
- Helm of Nightmares x1
- Coral Ring x1
- Holy Water x1
- Guts and Glory Glove x1
Gallery
The soul of the King of Lucrece
The soul of the Minister
The soul of the Fugalia boy
The soul of Streibough
The soul of Hasshe
The soul of Uranus
The soul of Alethea
The pause screen of the Trial
| Final Chapter: The Dominion of Hate |
|---|
| Characters |
| Pogo • Earthen Heart Master (Yun Jou • Lei Kugo • Hong Hakka) • The Sundown Kid • Oboromaru • Masaru Takahara • Akira Tadokoro • Cube • Oersted • Odio |
| Locations |
| Seat of the Betrayers • Silent Wood • Condemned Village • The Last Hero's Grave • The Archon's Roost • Trials (Instinct • Skill • Time • Keys • Power • Heart • Wisdom) |
| Enemies |
| Xavier • Polydectes • Oedipus • Daedalus • Teil Queen • Pawnbert • Ruby Tyrant • Cerberus • Lightbringer • Souleater • Dreadbulb • Phantom Rider • Deathfist Disciple • Chrono Legionary • Ravenous Bear • Nekomata • Mecha-Satake 98 • Earthshaker • Entomophilia • Claustrophilia • Babaliyan • Grand Visages • Dragon Killer • Ishtar • Glasya Labolas • Tsunayoshi • Pup Lord • Grammoth • Pistachio • Titanblood • Riftwalker Genzaemon • Roly Poly • Ship of Horrors • Acrophilia • Scotophilia • Hygrophilia • Helios Hound • Darkwall • Shadow • Lucretius • The Bountiful Heart • Jaggedy Jacks • Apophisphilo • Euraokos • Death Prophet • Headhunter • Eyes of Odio • Maw of Odio • Brow of Odio • Purity of Odio • Arm of Odio (Left) • Arm of Odio (Right) • Sin of Odio |
| Music |
| The Dominion of Hate • Silent Labyrinth • Illusion • Pure Odio • Armageddon • Live over Again • Live for Live • Gigalomania |
| Transcripts |
| 2022 (English) • 1994 (English, Japanese) |