Trial of Time
“That means you've got until the eighth bell to make your preparations. We'll only have the one chance. If we're not ready by the time they arrive...”
—The Sheriff, The Wanderer
The Trial of Time is one of the seven Trials found within the final chapter, The Dominion of Hate. It is hidden by the path to the Archon's Roost within the Silent Wood. To discover the entrance, the party must follow an enigmatic horse who only appears for the Sundown Kid. Though the path is shrouded by the trees, keeping pursuit is the only way to unseal the trial's mouth.
A menacing darkness hangs over the heroes' heads as they traverse this maze, every knell shrouding them further. Those who brave the darkness shall find the magnificent .44 Magnum, Sundown's ultimate weapon.
Appearance
The Trial of Time is a colossal, mazelike cave, with rock formations slithering down the walls and columns resembling roots. Small patches of dead, orange grass somehow persist inside, and beams of sunlight shine down from every room.
Overview
The Trial of Time has no random encounters; instead, the primary enemy found inside is time. As the party stays inside the cavern, the sound of a bell will regularly permeate the halls, and the light within will slightly fade. With every ring, the dungeon grows darker; by tails end, it becomes practically impossible to see. Similar to the Wild West chapter, The Wanderer, the heroes have until the eighth ring before the light fades completely and danger approaches.
The objective of this dungeon, ostensibly, is to gather as much treasure as possible and escape before the din of the final bell. The trial consists of several winding pathways and multiple floors connected by stairs, making it easy to lose one's way, and the gradual loss of visibility may make navigation even trickier. At the bottom of the labyrinth lies Sundown's ultimate weapon, the .44 Magnum. Picking up the Magnum summons no exit portal; the party must flee to the exit on their own reconnaissance. Leaving and reentering the trial will reset the timer.
Boss: Jaggedy Jacks
Remaining within the trial until the eighth and final bell will herald the arrival of the Jaggedy Jacks, a vicious pack of crystalline fiends who seek to devour the heroes. However intimidating they may seem, they are perfectly bestable in a fight if the heroes have the strength. Doing so will earn them the Cosmic Glove, one of the five pieces of Cosmic Equipment.
Slaying the Jaggedy Jacks will re-illuminate the trial in its entirety, allowing the party to freely explore it without restraint.
Treasures
- Fertility Charm x1
- Eye of Argos x1
- Holy Water x1
- Magicked Wood x1
- Charioteer's Boots x1
- .44 Magnum x1
- Cosmic Glove x1
Gallery
The Jaggedy Jacks sic themselves upon the party
The pause screen within the Trial
Trivia
- The .44 Magnum can be equipped in the offhand of all party members except Cube for half of its stats, making it a very useful way to increase Agility.
| 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) |