Random All-Important 'Memories' Event in Rune Factory 4

I did not realise that one could go on for years without triggering a critical event until I discovered, quite by accident that a specific day in your own game may be an 'Event' Day and that, by reloading, you can trigger a different event.  If, therefore, you wish to trigger a specific event and all requirements and conditions have been met for that event, you may need to reload a few times on a day when it is evident that an Event can trigger.

I will explain by example.  I had Amber as my companion when I went to bed at 5.57 a.m.  At 6.00 a.m., if she stayed with me, I found that an Event in the Plaza could be triggered if I found Clorica asleep there.  Likewise, by going to the Inn, I discovered that an Event called 'Eternal Rivals' might be triggered that involved the rivalry between Dylas and Doug.  If I went to the area outside the Flower Shop, another Event that involved Volkanon and a mistaken belief that I wished to resign from my duties as surrogate Princess could be triggered.  Finally, a different Event entitled 'Shiny Memories' could be triggered simply by exiting from my room into the Square and noticing a bird's nest above my door.

All of these Events could be triggered randomly, depending on the positions of various individuals when I awakened or my own movements.  The Event that I really wished to trigger, however, was one that is entitled, quite simply 'Memories'.  It is a critical Event that must be experienced only AFTER you have completed the basic plot to emerge victorious.  It will unlock the door at the top of Leon Karnak.

Why is it important and why are players so frustrated when they are unable to trigger it?  Well, for a start, all the best and most valuable items or War Trophies cannot be found until you have access to the top area of Leon Karnak.  Note here that if your XP Levels are insufficient to be able to USE these high-level Items, you will have to wait until you raise your XP in order to use them in Forging or Crafting or whatever.  Nonetheless, why not trigger it and get it out of the way???

I therefore kept reloading to see if it would trigger.  When, at 6.00 a.m., Amber told me she had to leave instead of remaining with me, I knew I had a chance at it.  It was only when I entered the Flower Shop after 7.00 a.m. and after seeing Dylas go inside that I was able to trigger the first sequence in the 'Memories' Event as follows:

The earliest that Memories would trigger was 7.10 a.m.  I had Amber overnight and as soon as I awakened, she rushed off to enter Carnations.  Although I followed her, nothing occurred until 7.00 a.m. when Dylas entered.  I went inside to experience the following:

Dylas:  There's a door, right?
Amber:  Yep.
Dylas:  Any way to open it?
Amber:  I dunno.
Dylas:  Ah.
Amber:  I just got told I wasn't qualified.
Dylas:  You weren't qualified?
Amber:  Yep.  Gotta have determination to open it.  It's proof you can change the world, y'know.  They said mine wasn't the right kind, so I couldn't open it.
Dylas:  ... I can't even picture it.
Amber:  Ummm...
Dylas and Amber both: (...)
Dylas: This is getting us nowhere.  Let's go talk to Arthur.
Amber;  Okay.  Let's ask him.

After:
Amber:  It sounds like there isn't any window or backdoor we can open, either.
Dylas:  Humph.  I can't believe there's nothing I can do.

I was able to trigger the next little Event in the sequence as early as 6.00 a.m. the next morning by simply entering the Clinic.

Dolce:  Even if we somehow manage to open the door...  There's still the question of bringing her back.
Pico:  Exactly.  How to give her a solid body again...
Dolce:  If she doesn't have a body... wouldn't she simply end up like you?
Pico:  I'm not certain.  If she could, it seems like she would have stayed in our world in the first place.
Dolce:  Perhas, unlike you, she had no regrets?
Pico ...
Dolce:  Not remaining in our world means she had nothing left to tie her here, correct?
Pico:  ... That is possible.
Dolce: ...
Pico (with a laugh):  But we still can't know for certain.  She's in a very different position from us normal mortals.  I expect you wish to talk so that we can discover for sure just how different, correct?
Dolce:  ... Yes.
Pico:  Well, in that regard we've already asked Leon about what he can remember.  We should focus on searching for any other possible ways.
Dolce: ...

After:
Dolre:  Are you here for some medicine?
Choose 'Talk'
Dolce:  This is more difficult than I thought.
Pico:  Regrets...

As early as 6.00 a.m. the next day, I was able to enter the Baths to experience the next Event in the sequence.

Barrett:  A Homing Ring? (!)
Leon:  Yes.  Can you make one?
Barrett:  ... It'd be difficult.
Leon:  I'll pay whatever price you ask.
Barrett:  I don't need any money.
Leon:  I'll acquire all the materials you might need, as well.
Barrett:  It's not that either.
Leon: (What?)  So what is it, then?
Barrett:  It's... well...  To be honest, it was an utter fluke I managed to make one the first time.
Leon:  A fluke?
Barrett:  Yes.  So it's not the materials or the money.  I just don't remember how to make it.
Leon: ...
Barrett:  Don't give me that look.  I was despearte to do anything at the time.  But anyway, I can't do anything for you.  I'm sorry.
Leon:  No, it's my fault for asking the impossible.  My apologies.
Barrett:  Why do you need one, anyway?  I'm sure Freya can always use a homing spell.  Earthmates tend to have that ability.
Leon:  You mean Gate Reject?
Barrett:  Yeah.
Leon: (Probably.)  I think the power of that spell would be too much to handle at once.
Barrett:  Hmm?
Leon:  The one we want to bring back has just a bit much in the way of Rune energy.
Barrett: ...?
Then:
Barrett: (!)  Wait, are you...?
Leon:  ...
Barrett:  Ah.  Now I get it.  I guess you can find people willing to do the insane just about anywhere.
Leon:  Oh?
Barrett:  Yeah.  I agree, it's probably wise not to attempt the Gate Reject spell.  Freya tried a spell like it before, I think, and it didn't work.  Thinking back on it now, I think that time the Rune energy had just... exploded.  We got off lucky that once, but there's no telling whether we'll be that lucky again.  Its too dangerous.
Leon:  I know.
Barrett:  As for other ways...
Leon: ...

After:
Leon:  I had thought the Homing Ring was as good an idea as any...

Barrett:  Actually...  The last time we tried the Gate Reject spell, it was you we were bringing back, right?  Must be karma at work, I guess.

You now can go immediately to the large chamber where Ventuswill once sat in isolated splendour.

Freya:  Venti...  Can you hear me?  (...)  Every one misses you, Venti. (...)  But...

Freya walks forward a bit to the very centre of the chamber.

Freya:  I promised.  I swore we'd all be okay, even without you.  I swore I'd protect this town.  So...  This is the path you chose.  (...)

She turns to the right.

Freya:  But still...

Your choices now:

I miss you.
I want to see you.
...

I chose:  I miss you.

The event ends.

The next day I was not able to trigger the next Event at the Baths until 6.26 a.m.

Dolce:  Thank you.  This is your payment.
Raven: (Take your time.)  Thank you.  (...)  Um...
Dolce:  Yes?
Raven:  It's too much.
Dolce:  Oh.  This item is of excellent quality, so I htought I'd give you a bit extra.  Besides...
Raven: ...?
Dolce:  You listened to me.  That helped take a weight off my shoulders.
Raven:  Oh.
Dolce;  I n exchange, get some more of these excellent quality items for next time too, okay?
Raven:  ... Thank you.
Dolce begins to exit and meets me on the carpet near the door.
Dolce:  Good morning, Freya.
Freya:  Good morning.
Dolce:  See you later.
She leaves.

After:
Freya:  Um...
Raven:  What?

My choices now:

You two sure get along.
What did you talk about?
It's nothing.

I chose:  What did you talk about?
Raven:  Family.
Freya:  Really?
Raven: ...  I have family not related by blood.  But they're not interested in anything but blacksmithing and I'm not very good at talking.  So we don't talk much.  Or ask a lot about each other.  But...  When they need help, I want to help them.  I may be butting in where I don't belong, but I still want to help.
Freya: ...
Raven:  What about you?
Freya:  Hmm?
Raven:  Do you have people you want to help?

My choices now:
Yes.
...

I chose: Yes....  But they might not want any help.
Raven: (Oh.)  ... Yeah.
Freya:  I don't know what they want.  (!)  What do you mean?
Raven:  Even with people you are with all the time, you can't know all there is to know about them.  What you do might hurt them. Or make them argue with  you.  But...  Despite everything that happens, if you still want to be wtth them...  Then that's family, i htink.
Freya: ...
Raven:  The more important some one is to you...... the more often you find yourselves hurting each other.  But...  You'll still want to trust them.  That's not wrong.  It could be just self-centred desire on your part.  But it's okay to trust them.
Freya: (...)  Even if you lose some one or something important to you because of it?
Raven:  If you want to change something, you should be ready to lose something in exchange.  After all, 'changing' means 'losing the present'.  And...  Some things won't ever change if you don't have the courage to step up. ... At least, that's what i was taught by some one I know..
 Freya:  Things that won't change unless you have the guts to step up...
Raven:  Yes.
Freya: ...
Raven:  The girl before was thinking on something like that.
Freya:  Huh?
Raven:  That's all I can tell you. ... Good luck.
Freya: ...

After:
Raven:  Good luck.  I'm with you.

The next day, I was able to trigger an Event in Ventuswill's Chamber only if I entered after 6.34 a.m.  Dolce and Leon had to have entered first.  If you enter earlier, some participants may be there, but you will not trigger the event.  They all would be standing in a circle in the centre of the room.

Dolce:  I'd like to confirm something.  Do you mind?
Leon:  What is it?
Dolce:  We are, right now, attempting to resurrect Ventuswill of our own, independent wills, correct?  We will go forward with it.  Even if it isn't what Ventuswill herself desires.
Pico:  Dolly...
Dolce:  Correct?
Amber:  Yep!
Dolce: Hmm?
Dylas: (...)  Of course we are.
Leon:  I was wondering why you looked so grim.  Is that all?
Dolce:  I-I'm very serious about this!  It's no joke!
Leon:  We're prepared to face the consquences.
Dolce: (!)
Leon:  We'll going through with it, even if it's not what she wants.  After all...  I have a mountian of things I wish to say to her.  (That's why.)  If she doesn't come back, how am I supposed to tell her/
Amber:  I think Venti's gonna be happy to come back.  But if she isn't...  Well...  I still think it's only right that she comes back.  This is her home.
Dylas:  Me?  I still can't accept it.  I don't have any logical reason behind it or anything.  I can't accept things the way they are now, so I'm gonna make it so that I can.  That's all..
(...)
Dolce:  Every one...  (...)
Pico:  So what will you do, milady?
Dolce: (!)  I... ... ... You know the answer to that.  (Stupid.)
Pico:  Of course.
Leon: (Alright.)  Excellent.  Let's get down to business...  How can we bring Ventuswill home?

Your choices now:
Wait a minute.
Man, you guys are selfish.
Can I join in?

All choices it appears will produce the same result.

They all turn and exhibit (!)

Leon:  Love...
Dolce:  Why are you here?
Freya moves closer.
Freya:  I have stuff I want to say to Venti too.  Even if it's just a selfish wish on my part...I still want her to come home.  HOme to this town. To us.
Dylas:  Dear Freya...
Freya:  Venti herself may not have wanted it...  But I want to believe.  I want to believe she wanted to stay with us.  And I'll keep believing that.
Every one now: (...)

Leon:  So it seems we're going to have to find out for certain... one way or another.
Freya: (!)
Dylas;  I don't think asking her straight out will get us an answer.  She's not like that.
Amber:  But she an be awfully easy to read.
Dolce:  True.  What she thinks shows on her face veru quickly.
Freya:  Guys...
Pico:  Well, Freya?  You will help us too, yes?

My choices now:
Yeah.
Of course!

I chose: Of course!

I take my place in the circle.

Leon:  Now then...  First, let's organise what all of us know.  Dylas.  How was the gate to the Forest of Beginnings?
Dylas: It's close to Leon Karnak, just like Amber said.  The question is how to open it.
Leon:  What do we need?
Amber:  the dtermination to open it...
Leon:  What?
Amber:  (Yeah.)  I heard it's something like the, um... what was it?  Proof of being able to change the world.  That's what I heard somebody say before I got turned into a Guardian.  He found the guts and said it wouldn't open until somebody had the determination.
Leon: (...)  Interesting.
Dylas:  We were just going to go talk to Arthur to see what he knows.  What about you and Barrett?
Leon:  Apparently, he doesn't even know how he made that hOming Ring in the first place.  So right now there's no way aside from us attempting to make one ourselves, somehow.
Dylas;  Ah.
Dolce;  I'll do what research I can into other ways, but I don't have any leads at the moment.  Though I have heard that there is a spell Earthmates might know for getting to the forest.
Freya:  Huh?
Dylas:  What's that mean?
Pico:  It seems there may be a way to resurrect her body by fusing Runes into her new vessel.
Dolce:  Though that's only a rumour we heard.  It's not certain.
Leon:  I see.
Pico:  But no matter what, we still have to go into the Forest of Beginnings.
Leon:  So it seems we've reached the end of our leads...

My choices now:
Not yet.
There's one thing left.
Let's try Gate Reject.
...

If you choose the other options, you will see a bit of dialogue, but ultimately you will suggest:

I chose:  Let's try Gate Reject.
Every one: (!?)
Freya:  Let's try the Gate Reject spell!
Amber:  No!  That would be bad!
Dolce:  She's right!  You already tried it once when you went to the tower, and it failed!
Freya:  I know.  But that doesn't  mean it won't work this time.
Pico:  Freya...?
Leon:  Do you realise what you're saying?
Freya:  Yes.
Dylas: (Hey!)  The heck you do!
Freya: (1)
Dyulas:  You got lucky you escaped fallout last time.
Freya:  Still...
Leon:  He's right.  We can't let anything happen to you.  If we did, we'd never be able to face Venti or the other townsfolk again.
Pico:  ... Exactly.  Please don't think of trying that ever again.
Freya: ...

My choice now is only:  Don't give up.

Every one: (!)
Freya:  I'm not giving up.  Even if everybody says I'm crazy.  Call me selfish if you will...  I'm still going to try it!  I mean...  I want Venti to come home, no matter what.  I want to see her again!  And I'm not going to give up on that without a fight.
Dolce:  Hmph.  Looks like there's no stopping you.
Freya:  Huh?
Leon:  I guess it's safer for you to try it with us than doing it somewhere in secret.
Amber:  I'm still worried... but if you really wanna do it, I can't stop you.
Pico:  Hmph!  What are we going to do with you?
Freya:  Guys...
Dylas: ... (...)  If there's even a hint that it's going sour, I'll stop you in a heartbeat.  Got it?
Freya:  Okay.
Dylas:  That...  And if you're so dead set on doing this, at least get good and ready first.
Freya:  I know.
Leon:  Excellent.  Well then, let us know once you have finished preparing.  We'll wait here for you.

After:

Pico:  Good ness, you're all such a handful to deal with!

Amber:  Are you ready?
My choices now:

Yes.
Not yet.

If you choose 'Not yet' you can finish your chores or whatever before initiating the next Event.

There is another little dialogue if you leave and come back:

Amber:   I hope Venti comes home soon.
Pico:  We all do.
Amber:  I wonder if this is what it was like for her?
Dolce:  What do you mean?
Amber:  After we all became Guardians...  I heard she kept wanting to save us.  That's exactly what we're doing now for her, so I wonder if this is how she felt.
Dylas:  ...
Leon:  I'm sure.
Dolce:  ... Yes.
Dylas;  Are you ready?
Not yet.
Dylas:  Get good and ready before you come back, got it?

I chose Yes.
Amber:  Okay, let's get started!

The screen darkens for an instant.

Leon:  All right, let us begin.
Amber: ...
Dolce:  What is it, Amber?
Amber:  Oh, um... I was just wondering how Venti must've felt.
Dolce;  Hmm?
Amber:  When she... y'know... erased our memories.  I mean, she must have had stuff she wanted to tell us.  But she couldn't.  She had to hold it in so she could erase our memories.
Dylas:  She did that for us.
Amber:  I know.
Dolce: ...
Leon:  We just have to apologise.  All of us... once she has come home.
Pico:  Yes, that sounds best!  All right, Freya, if you please!
Freya:  Right!  I'm sorry, Venti, but we're going to be a little selfish.  But...  You can complain all you want once we all get home.  So please...  Gate Reject!

The Bind Rune forms.

Dylas:  Dear Freya!?
Big explosion.

In the dark:
...  Can you hear me?
...  What, you're asleep?
... I guess this is for the best.

Venti now is back, but Amber is in front of her on the floor.
Venti:  Amber...  It IS you, amber!  You still live!  Thank the stars!  Oh, how long has it been, Amber?  I remember it all so fondly...  Come, smile for me like you used to.  Smile... smile!
(...)  Amber...?  I want to see you smile again!  But...  Should you remember me, it would only make you sad.  And that might lead you to think about wild plans to 'rescue' me again.  I won't have that.  So I'll seal away your memories.  Just your memories of me.  So please, smile for me, Amber.  Brightly.  INnocently.  Just like you used to.  That will be enough for me.

She casts a spell.

Venti:  Goodbye, Amber.  I will not forget you.  I will not forget flying with you across the cloudless skies.

IN the dark now:

... I will never forget.

Venti now with Dylas laying before her on the floor.

Venti:  Hmph.  Well, aren't YOU sleeping like the proverbial baby?  And what an adorable baby face you have, too, for all that you are a grump when you are awake.  are you certain you couldn't do something about that?  Not that you are the sort who would listen.  Hmph.  Earthmates and Guardians, you are all such a selfish lot.  You insist on going about and doing me favours without telling me.  YOu have no idea, do you?  You cannot know what it feels like to be the one left behind.  You could enver understand how heavy that guilt can be.  (...)  I never knew myself!  I had no idea it could be this hard to be left behind without a single word...

She casts a spell.

Venti:  Goodbye, Dylas.  You who call my name.  I remember your brusque voice.  How could I forget it?

Screen darkens again.

In the dark:

... I would never forget it.

Now Venti has Dolce on the ground before her.

Pico  Is Dolly all right?
Venti:  Of course.  But there's one thing I must do.  Dolce.  There are many things I wish to tell you.  But I have been asked to watch over you only, nothing more.  Besides...  It seems I'm closing in on the last of my strength.  So... I'm afraid I...

She casts her spell.

Venti:  I must say goodbye, Dolce.  Be happy.  That is all your parents ever wanted of you.  Even should the rest of the world forget.  I will always remember.  So please.  ... Please, Dolce.  Be happy.

The screen darkens.  In the dark...

Forget me.

Now Leon is before her, but he is standing upright.

Leon  It seems the Earthmates stayed behind in order to save my life.
Venti (...)  I see.  Now, there are many things I wish to tell you, but they will have to wait.
Leon:  You're off to the rescue?
Venti:  Of course.
Leon:  You are, as always, an amusing god.
Venti:  Silence, you.  I am simply fed up, nothing more.
Leon:  Oh?
Venti:  Yes.  I'm sick of every one leaving me behind to go off on their selfish missions to save me.
Leon: ...  Then hear one thing before you fly off.
Venti:  What?
Leon:  The Earth mate who saved me told me to tell you this...  'Thank you for being my friend.'  'It was fun.'
Venti ...!
Leon:  That Earthmate was rather entertaining.  Calling Ventuswill herself, one of the Four Native Dragons, a personal 'friend'!  Ha ha!
Venti  That fool...!
 Leon  So is that 'fool' the one you chose for your current Priest?
Venti  Hmph!  I abolished that irksome position centuries ago.
Leon:  Ah ha ha.
Venti:  Even had i not, who would choose some one so selfish and headstrong as their Priest?
Leon:  Then what is this person to you if not your Priest?
Venti  I would say...  ... much like you, I suppose.
Leon:  What?
Venti:  Like all of you who became my Guardians.  You are all simply my friends.
Leon:  Venti...
Venti  My thanks, Leon.  It's only by the efforts of you and the other Guardians that i am alive today.  Not only that...

The sceen darkens again after she takes wing:

I am no longer alone!

Freya:  Hey, Venti...?  Don't leave us.
Venti:  ...
Freya:  Please, Venti.  Don't go away.
Venti ...

Screen darkens.
... No.

Venti:  It is time we parted.
Freya:  Venti! Wait!  Don't go!
Venti:  Goodbye, Freya.  (The rest is iup to you!)

Darkness, and:
Were it my decision, I would not go.  But I must.

Back in the chamber:
Freya:  VENTI!!!
Venti  I was truly happy, meeting you.
Freya:  Please...!
Venti:  I was able to be fond of mortals again.
Freya:  Venti!
Venti:  If... if we were to meet again... somewhere... sometime..  Then I...

In the darkness:
...No... I don't not wish to go...

Venti  I want to go back... to spend the day in idle conversation and simple fun...
Freya:  VENTI!!!
Venti  Thank you, Freya.  My last friend...

In the darkness:
I do not wish to be alone anymore.  I do not wish to be left all by myself.  I cannot stand it!

Now Venti is gone and Freya is laying on the floor with eveyr one looking at her.

Amber:  Freya...!
Leon:  (Hey!)  Love, are you all right?
Freya:  Ngh...

She stands now.

Pico:  Whew!  You're awake.
Dolce:... Don't make us worry like that anymore.
Freya:  ...
Dylas:  What's wrong?
Freya:  I had a ... dream.
Dylas:  A dream?
Freya:  About Venti.

All of them together: (?!)

Freya:  It was when she had to erase all of your memories...  And when she was disappearing herself...
Dolce: ...!
Amber:  So you got to see Venti's dreams?
Freya: ...Yeah.
Every one now: (...)
Dylas:  What did she say?
Freya:  Huh?
Dylas:  Did you see anything?  Did you learn anything about her at all?!
Leon:  Calm down, Dylas.
Dylas:  I know, I know!  But...!
Dolce: ...
Freya:  She said...
Pico:  Hmm?
Freya:  She said that she didn't want to go.
Every one now: (!)
Freya:  That she didn't want...  She didn't want to be alone anymore.
Amber:  Freya...
Dolce:  Why are you crying?
Freya:  Wha?  Wait... huh?  Still...  Venti asked me to take care of this town for her.  She said she wanted to see me smile as she left...  Those were her last words....
Amber:  Yeah.
Freya:  ... Thank goodness...  Venti didn't want to leave.  She... she did want to stay here, to keep living with every one...  It wasn't just me.  It... it wasn't just me...!
Amber:  Yeah!
(She rushes forward to hug Freya.)
Dolce:  ...Hmph.  How stupid can you be?  Of course it wasn't just you.  Even I... ... I...
Pico  Dolly...
Dylas:  I think we all felt the same.
Leon:  Yes.
Dylas:  We really can't quit, now.  So I say let's pour it on.  We're gonna bring her back to us if we have to rip open that dumb gate with our bare hands.
Leon:  I agree.
Arthur now arrives.

Arthur:  Ah!  There you are, Dylas.
Dylas and Leon both: (!)
Dylas:  Arthur?
Arthur:  Hmm?  What is all this?
Leon: It's nothing much.  It'll be fine if we just leave them a little space.
Dylas:  So what is it, Arthur?
Arthur: (?)  Dylas, do you have a cold?
Dylas:  Huh?
Arthur:  It sounded like you have a bit of a stuffy nose.//
Dylas: ...!  I-it's nothing!  Just a case of the sniffles!
Arthur:  Then it is a cold.  That is not 'nothing' I would think.
Leon:  Ha ha!
Arthur:  Hmm?  You as well, Leon? Your eyes look a touch red.
Leon:  You're seeing things.
Dylas:  Heh heh...
Arthur:  Oh yes.  Anyway, I had something I wanted to discuss with Dylas.
dylas:  What's up?
/Arthur:  I've found something that just may be able to open that gate!
Dylas:  Really?!
Arthur:  Yes.
Leon:  What is it?!
Arthur:  Ah.  Given that reaction, Leon, you are involved in this as I suspected.
Leon  That doesn't matter right now.  Tell us what it is!
Arthur:  I shall do you one better.  I've brouight it along with me.... Here it is.
He holds up a Rune Sphere.
Dylas:  That...!

Leon:  A Rune Sphere?
Arthur  All things in this world hold the power of Runes.  And the Forest of Beginnings is where those Runes all eventually return.  Not even a Native Dragon can defy that.
Dylas:  ...
Arthur:  Yet Lady Ventuswill held out against it, delaying her return for centuries.  She managed only with the power you gave to her.
Leoon: ...!
Arthur:  That power is then, in essence, the power to disrupt the natural order.  It is the power... to change the world.  And if anything were to hold power of a level that you four held as Guardians...
Kiel:  That'd be a Rune Sphere!
He races into the chamber.
Dylas:  Kiel?
Kiel:  Geez, ARthur!  Why'd you have to go run off without me?
Arthur:  My apologies.  I guess I was too excited to contain myself...
Leon:  Kiel, what are you doing here?
Kiel:  I'm helping Arthur, of course! ... Well, sorta, anyway.
Leon  What?
Kiel:  See, we don't want to give up on Lady Ventuswill, either.
Leon  Kiel...
Arthur:  anyway, this may be able to open that gate.  What do you want to do?

My choices now:
I'll go!
Don't leave me behind!

I chose:  I'll go!

Every one: (!)

Dylas:  Dear Freya...
Leon:  What, recovered already?

My choices now:
Of course!
Yes, Mr. Sniffle-Nose.
Says Sir Red-Eye.

I chose:  Of course.

/Arthur: Heh heh...  Well, then, I think it wise that Master takes the Rune Sphere.
Freya:  Are you sure?
Arthur: Yes.  In fact, I insist you do.
Freya:  Huh?
Leon:  What do you mean?
Kiel:  Um, this is all just a theory, mind you...  But I think that whole 'proof' of world-changing ability is tied up with being an Earthmate.  I mean, Earthmates invented the spell to make people into Guardians, right?  And the Rune Sphere itself can make people able to us Earthmate magic.  So I think an Earthmate's power is gonna be needed if we want to open that gate.
Arthur:  Ah, what he said.  Will you do this for us?

My choices now:
Definitely!
You bet!
Nah.  Busy schedule.

I chose:  Definitely!

Arthur:  Well then, if you please.

He walks forward to hand off the Rune Sphere.

Arthur:  The Rune Sphere is now in your hands.  Please, help Lady Ventuswill!

After:
Arthur: The town has become a much cheerier place.  I suppose that means Selphia truly nmeeded Lady Ventuswill after all.
Amber:  The gate's at Leon Karnak.  I bet Venti's waiting for us all to come get her right now
Leon:  I have several choice words, myself.  So let us know when you're all ready, Love.  Don't attempt to slip away alone. Okay?
Dolce:  You are not to attempt this by yourself, understand?
Pico:  Dolly was just as upset as all of you, you know.
Dolce: ...

Amber:  The EArthmate who once made me a Guardian told me... that the Forest of Beginnings is beyond that door.  You can find the door at Leon Karnak.  I know that Ven's waiitng there for every one.

Leon:  The Forest of Beginnings, huh?  This takes me back.  I still remember when you came to save me like it was yesterday.  I actually have a whole mountain of things to say to her.  That's my motivation here.  You understand, Love?  So don't you dare leave me behind.

Dylas:  Are you about to go to the Leon Karnak?

My choices:  Yes or Not Yet.
Dylas;  Um... you know...  Be sure you ask me before you leave too, okay?

Dolce:  You are not to attempt this by yourself, understand?
Pico:  Doll was just as upset as all of you, you know!

Every one will leave but Pico will stay behind!
Pico:  Give it all you've got!  I haven't complained nearly enough!

(If you save the game now, the Event no longer will be displayed.)

When you artrive at Leon Karnak:

Freya: (...)  It's not opening...  I should head to the top.

Suit your action to the words.  At the top:

Sano: Thou, who bear wisdom...
Uno:  Thou, who bear courage...  /what business have thee with beings like us?


My choices now:
I came to open the door.
I came to see you two.
What AM I doing here?

I chose:  I came to open the door.

Sano:  If thou speaketh true...
Uno:  Present that form to us here.
Freya: (...)
Sano:  We shall determine thy qualifications.
Uno:  We shall examine thy proof.
Sano:  However!
Uno  PReparedness is unseeable.
Sano:  Therefore...
Uno:  Show us, with thy strength...
Show us... how ready thous truly art!

I defeat both of them with Durendal.

Uno:  Thou art qualified.  We have seen thy readiness.
Sano:  Thou hast shown us proof.  We have confirmed thy readiness.
Uno:  To thee, who hast shown us what we requested...
Sano:  To theee, who hast shown us what we needed to see...
Uno:  Go now.
Sano:  Take that readiness in hand.
Uno:  Remake this world.
Sano:  And bring happiness,,,
Uno:  To our future...

They leave behind a Left Rock Shard and a Right Rock Shard.

Tooik the right entrance and defeated a Monster, then said to myself:

Freya:  Let's try heading to the entrance at the bottom of the tower.

I htink you fight the Sarcophagus no matter which entrance you take at the top and you will receive a Crystal Skull as a war trophy.  

If you go back to Selphia, every one to whom you speak will give you Magical Potion and tell you they will come with you to save Lady Ventuswill, although they then will wander off.

Get past a green lizard at the top and you will be in a strange white landscape.

You must never forget.  We created this stone... in the hopes of honouring their feelings... so that those feelings would never be in vain.... and to put an end to everything... once and for all.

Freya:  Wasn't that the same as...?

The Rune of the Divine Wind Dragon is still wandering in the depths of this forest...  It's trying to support the land of Selphia with its own existence.  Now that you know this... what do you plan to do about it?

...
Freya:
I should go.
I should hurry onward.
I should go home first.

Went on anyway, through a number of different paths, until I came to a huge shell monster, whom I defeated and received an Ammonite.

Then to another colourful landscape.

Did you know that the Native Dragons are living beings, just like any other?  Those that live must eventually return to the Forest of Beginnings.  And after years, decades or even centuries... their roles get passed on to the next generation's dragons.  The dragons live far longer than humans, aging slowly and wandering perpetually. ... as if they're quietly watching over the world from within it.

Ventuswill, the Divine Wid Dragon of eternity... was one such being.  However...  As she was born in a land where the runes were beginning to die out... she was quite weak.  There were people who felt sorry for her, though, and decided to sacrifice themselves to save her.  And so she was saved by a spell that used the will of humans to collect large numbers of runes.  Their will lost, the humans were frozen in a deep slumber, never aging a day.  People later named that spell 'Etherlink'. ... and called the brave souls who froze themselves 'Guardiana'.

This term was created by the first Guardian, and just seems to have stuck over time.  And those who granted the Guardians' wishes...  were the Earthmates.  Us.

Past the Crystal Mammoth, you will find another landscape.

 'Etherlink' is a spell that infuses people with runes.    The people upon whom its cast will fuse with the runes... empowering the one to whom they're linked with whatever remains of their willpower.  We Earthmates have continued searching for a way to naturally restore the runes in this land... because a single person's will cannot support the life of a Divine Dragon.  Willpower and bonds change over time... And they can't be kept in one place, making them both strong and fragile in equal measure.  We scoured the land for other solutions.  That was the desire of the Guardians, who bought us time to acocmplish that very goal.  And it was our vow, as well.  The Earthmate that cast the spell aged, and eventually returned to the Forest of Beginnings.  HIs hopes and his research were kept, however, and a new magic was to be born.  It was a magic that summoned any one person you desired from the Forest of Beginnings.  But right before it was completed...  another person had become a Guardian.  LIke the first, she too had been the Divine Dragon's closest friend.
Freya: ...


Fire Dungeon, Rune Prana, there are a couple of hidden openings.  To the right of a red boulder, you will find some more chambers that take you to the final switch.

Now in a colourful landscape again:

A magic that summons any person you desire from the Forest of Beginnings...  The purpose of this spell, known as Omni Gate' was to bring the ones lost to the Forest of Beginnings back into this world.  But it was merely a bit of sorcery.  Not a miracle.  It was quickly learned you could only use it when it when the laws of nature were kept in line.  Those who lived out their lives in full could never be brought back again.  There was another problem, too.  When the runes grew too large, no human could control them.  So this magic definitely couldn't help save the Divine Dragon.  Realising this fact, we started searching for other alternatives.  'Etherlink'...  By casting this spell on things other than humans, we might be able to create rune crystals... which will eventually take the place of the Guardians.  But when we finallly reached that solution, another person came to us.  He asked to cast Etherlink.  But it wasn't to create rune crystals.  He instead wanted to freeze himself within time... to protect his best friend, the Divine Dragon.

Fought those twin Lion monsters and then went home to find I had not slept and it was the day of the Firefly Festival... didn't miss it though.

Impossible for me to win the Spring Crop Festival in 2nd Year

Winning all four of the Crop Festivals was not difficult at all in the 1st Year, but in the 2nd year, winning the Spring Crop Festival proved to be virtually impossible. 

I have done some research on the internet, even looked at some one's post wherein he/she claimed to have worked out a mathematical formula defining the point values needed to win.  Well, I hate to say it, but none of the information appears to be accurate.

I went through the event again and again using different Crops and obviously, different Appeals.  The best I did was to attain 3rd place ONCE.

On every other occasion, I did not even reach 3rd place.  I entered a Level 10 Turnip, Level 6 Giant Pink Turnip, Level 6 Giant Cucumber, Level 3 Golden Pumpkin...  nothing better than 300 points and sometimes as low as 120 points in the case of the Level 10 Turnip. With a Big White Crystal, I only neeted 380 points.  265 points for Golden Potato.  362 points for Giant Four Leaf Clover... and third place again.  Blue Crystal didn't even win 3rd.

In one file, I intend to take my pathetic 3rd place result, complete with a Failed Dish prize, and move forward.  In another file, I may try a few more times.

For the Crops that take long to mature, Volkanon will say:  This isn't quick to blossom by any means.  That will surely have a positive effect on your score.'

Not by much though, evidently!  Some of the Crops I entered took over 50 days to mature.

If it is above Level 1:  Mmm.   Its  quality is above average.

Trick to Raise RP beyond maximum level in order to be able to Craft beyond your abilities

In Rune Factory 4, as in all Rune Factory games, Cooked Dishes will raise your statistics in different ways.  Certain dishes raise HP by a specific amount.  Others raise your MAXIMUM HP temporarily.  In the same way, there are certain dishes that will raise your RP by a specific amount and others tht temporarily raise your MAXIMUM RP.

Every Item that you craft, whether it is a Cooked Dish or a Weapon or a Medicine is given a specific Level in terms of the amount of Skill your Character needs in order to make it successfully.  This skill is measured in RF4 by your maximum RP.  If you lack the mimimum amount of skill needed or if you lack the Ingredients required to make the Item, it will be 'grayed out' when you access the crafting Menu.

If you have all the required Ingredients but lack sufficient skill, you can raise your RP temporarily by eating a Fish Dish made in the Frying Pan.

Here is a specific example from Freya's game.

She was at Level 64 in her Cooking Skill with a maximum RP of 1350.  Bado's favourite dish is Tempura Bowl.  It is Level 70 with a requirement of a maximum RP of 1400.  Although she had all the Ingredients needed to make the Dish, she would not have been able to cook it successfully with a maximum RP of 1350.   She needed to raise her maximum RP temporarily by 50 points in order to cook it.

She went to the Frying Pan Menu and found that Salted Char had the following effects:

HP +2200 RP max +50, INT +22.

By making and consuming Salted Char, she temporarily was able to raise her maximum RP to 1405 which placed the Tempura Bowl recipe within her range of expertise!

Now, there may be an added positive benefit to this strategy as there was in Freya's case.  The more difficult the recipe, the more skill you gain by completing it.  By making the Level 70 Tempura Bowl, Freya boosted her cooking skills to the next level.  She therefore raised her maximum RP permanently, although not by 50 points.

Making a dish that requires a large amount of RP will deplete your Character's RP considerably.  You may discover that you need to eat another Dish if you wish to craft more than one Item.  Be warned, however, that when you eat another Dish, the effects of that dish will supercede the effects of the Dish you consumed first.    Note, however, that the higher your Skill Level in the craft, the less RP you will need to make it.  The Tempura Bowl that required a maximum of 1400 RP to make at Level 64 required only 700 RP to make at Level 66.  In other words, by temporarily boosting her maximum RP in order to make two very difficult dishes in the form of Tempura Bowl and Relax Tea, Freya boosted her skill Level to a point where, at Level 66, she legitimately could make both without needing a temporary max RP elevation.

Sorting out Storage Issues in Rune Factory 4

I am an inveterate packrat in games as well as real life, but it is in the realm of Harvest Moon and Rune Factory that this characteristic actually can be positive, provided always that one can find storage space for everything.

First of all, however, it is important to realise that one must create a perfect balance between shipping and storing items in these games.  In Rune Factory 4, shipping at least one of every item has particularly positive effects, as it will allow the item to appear in local shops or in the menus of merchants such as Raven, the Fish Merchant and the Gem Merchant.  You always should ship the very first 'Material' that you obtain, whether as a War Trophy or otherwise, as it then has the potential to appear in Raven's knapsack where you can purchase it.  Purchase prices for Items are far higher than the price you will obtain when you ship the same item, but that is of little consequence really compared to the ability to lay hands upon the item without going into a dungeon to fight the same Monster again and again in the faint hope that it will be dropped as a War Trophy.

Furthermore, you can obtain valuable Items early in the game but when they are Materials that can be used at the Forge or Crafting Table, you will not be able to use them until your Skills at those activities increase enormously.  When then store an Item you cannot use?

Once you have shipped an Item, you can begin to collect it for your own future use.  Storage space always is a problem for me, but there are ways to mitigate the problem if you know where an Item can be stored.  Most Items are defined rather rigidly in terms of storage.  Crops, Fish and Cooked Dishes can be stored only in your backpack or in the Refrigerator.  Materials, Ores and Gems only can be stored either in your backpack or in the Storage Bin.  There are some Items, however, that can be stored either in the Refrigerator or in the Storage Bin.  These include Herbs/Grasses, Flowers and Ingredients.  Ingredients are those Items like Flour or Chocolate that can be purchased at the General Store as well as some Items crafted at the Medicine Bench that are used in Cooking, such as Sour Drop.

Finally, Seeds and Nutrients can be stored either in a Refrigerator or in the Storage Bin, giving the Player more flexibility with respect to storage.

As in any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game, options to expand storage space, whether in the form of your Backpack, the Refrigerator or Storage Bin do exist.  In Rune Factory 4, however, expansions depend upon a new option in the form of Prince/Princess Points, abbreviated as pp.  To make expaansions or engage in building projects, go to the Order Board in the throne room where Ventuswill resides.  You then will find all available expansion projects with their prices.  Storage expansions are listed under 'Development'.  It is here that you will find a fundamental difference between Expansion of a Refrigerator and Expansion of a Storage Bin which can make the flexibiity in storage of certain items very important in a practical sense. 

To expand your Refrigerator, you will need Material Stone.  To expand your Storage Bin, however, you will need Lumber.  For example, the cost of expanding your Refrigerator size from 450 to 570 is 1500 pp, 500 Material Stone but to expand your Storage Box from 450 to 570, you will need 1500 pp and 500 Lumber.

I find it easier to collect large quantities of Lumber than Material Stone for one reason alone.  When various types of Rocks drop upon your Fields, you cannot charge your Hammer to smash them all at once without destroying any tilled spaces.  You can charge your Axe, however, to deal with every Branch and other source of Lumber to the maximum without destroying tilled Squares.  It therefore is easier to clear the Fields of wood as well as easier to collect Lumber.

The rare Crystal Seeds in Rune Factory 4

As with the Tree to the west of Obsidian Mansion that delivers Fruit Tree Seeds daily, there is a Tree to the East of Sercerezo Hill that delivers the rare Crystal Seeds on a daily basis.  The colour of Crystal Seeds that you will obtain depends on the Season.  In the Spring, you can find Blue Crystal Seeds.  IN the Summer, you will find Green Crystal Seeds.  In Autumn, Red Crystal Seeds will be obtained and in Winter, you will find White Crystal Seeds.  Take the airship to the point that is named Sercerezo Hill and then go south one screen before walking east to the lower bridge that crosses the gap.  Go east one screen, south one screen, then west through the hidden gap in the pink Sakura Trees to find the screen with the magical Tree.  It is on a screen that overlooks the abyss.

Typhoons and Wettable Powder in Rune Factory 4 and finding upgraded Seeds

Horrible destructive storms still are an aspect of Rune Factory in Rune Factory 4 but there is a new option that allows a Farmer to prepare for them better and protect both Crops and Trees.  This is the new Wettable Powder, a Medicine that can be crafted at the Medicine Bench using Cherry Grass and Charm Blue (Level 30 Skill).  It can be purchased at the Carnation Flower Shop as well.

Every Medicine when applied on a field will cover four small squares or plots.  There are a number of occasions when the actual seeds planted on any four square configuration may matter.  One is for the purpose of protecting the items in that four-square with a Medicine such as Wettable Powder or No Rot.  The other is for the purpose of transforming the size of the items in the four-square area.  If you plant four of the same Crop in a four-square area, you can use Giantizer to transform the four Crops into a single enormous (Giant/Great) Crop.  It does not appear to matter whether or not the seeds are of different levels incidentally.  I have to do further research to see if one seed of a higher level will produce a higher level Giant or if all four need to be of that level to achieve that result.

Some Medicines used will be effective only once per day.   I have not been able to increase speed of growth more than once per day.  You caan use more than one bottle of Wettable Powder in a single day to boost the protection level beyond the 32% protection that it will give.  You can apply another bottle the next day to elevate the level of protection to 63%.  I have not found a way to boost the level beyond that.  It appears that the game does not wish for Farmers to be able to obtain 100% protection for their Crops and Trees.

Another form of protection may be the quality of your soil.  With a fertiliser bin, you can throw Weeds into it daily to raise your soil quality but as in the real world, using the same plots over and over again without allowing them to lie fallow will exhaust the soil and lower quality significantly.  If you place a Withered Grass on the plots that are low in quality and use a hoe on the Withered Grass, the soil quality will be raised for the four-square area.

Other methods of raising soil quality are to grow Corn or Clover and then use your Hoe on them to till them back into the soil instead of harvesting them.  Both are rather valuable Crops so I prefer the Withered Grass option usually, although there are Requests that cannot be completed if you are not willing to till at least one Clover and one ear of Corn.

In Rune Factory 4, whenever you harvest any Crop, a bag of Crop seeds one level higher than the Crop you harvested RANDOMLY may appear.  If you use a Sickle on the Crop instead of harvesting it, a bag of Seed one level higher than the Crop ALWAYS will appear but there will be no Crop to harvest.

Tip:  If you want a specific Seed of a higher level, save your game before you go to the Field.  Harvest the Crop to see if the random bag of upgraded Seeds appears.  If it fails to appear, reload and try again.  I prefer this little cheat to the waste of a good Crop.

Growing Dungeons and Shining Trees, aka Twinkle Trees in Rune Factory 4

I really love Rune Factory 4.  I think that a real effort was made to add new surprising options to the game while retaining all the aspects of Rune Factory that die-hard fans like myself love and expect from any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game.  While I have been slightly disappointed in some of the recent Harvest Moon games, finding them too arduous in some respects without being more exciting or interesting, Rune Factory does not disappoint.

Some of the new options involve Farming.  One can grow a Dungeon for example, from a special Seed obtained from an extraordinary monster who looks like a cute little Chipsqueek and initially can be found only between the first and fifth days of any Season.  Once you have found him, however, the location of his lair will appear on the map and the airship will 'remember' it and you can visit any day of the season.

Other wonderful new magical Seeds include the Shining Tree or Twinkle Tree and the Sword and Shield Crops.

Requests are a fundamental part of Rune Factory 4 as they have been in all Rune Factory games.  Eliza here is the one to give Requests.  She is a 'person' who once was the Sharance Tree evidently but only Freya can speak to her or recognise her as an individual in the early stages of the game.  You begin with a single Request each day but as you complete Requests, Eliza will allow you to take more.  Freya now is at the point where she can complete up to three Requests each day.

One of Eliza's Requests is to chop down a Shining Tree.  The Shining Tree is named the Twinkle Tree when it is grown in the field.  A random number of strokes with an Axe is required to chop down a Twinkle Tree and only a fully mature Twinkle Tree can be cut.  It broke my heart to chop down a Tree that took so much time to grow!  Luckily I did not save the results the first time because by not doing so, I was able to discover that the number of strokes (and therefore Lumber) as well as the actual Items you obtain when you cut down a Twinkle Tree is RANDOM.  I went through it a number of times to see how different the results could be.  In some cases, all I received was Lumber.  In other cases, I received 1 of the rare Glitta Augite stones.  In other cases, I received 2 Glitta Augite Stones with over 30 Lumber.  I never received more than two, however, so I finally saved with two Glitta Augite Stones and 36 Lumber.  The description of these is:

Glitta Augite: Collectible
  Difficulty: 50
  A strange stone produced by a tree.  Emits strong light.  If used for reinforcing a weapon, extends the range.

The selling value of a Level 5 Glitta Augite is 952G.
At 50 Difficulty, Freya is not strong enough to use it in forging yet, but will do as soon as possible!  She had a bit of luck in the early days of Spring when she found an Invisible Stone and was able to make an Invisiblade with it.  That weapon was far better than anything else she could have made without having unlocked any dungeons apart from Yokmir Forest.

Invisible Stones are a random discovery when using a Hammer on Rocks.  Found first in Yokmir Forest on a number of different screens, Freya was able to find them elsewhere as well later in the game.  Darkness Stones are found in a cave.