Yggdra Union Plot FAQ

The following is a list of questions and answers regarding the more complicated plot points in Yggdra Union.

Q. What is Morale?

A. Morale is just what it sounds like: enthusiasm for a cause. In Yggdra Union, a person's morale is their belief in their own ability. Loss of morale equates to defeat for one's cause. Consider these quotes from defeated characters.

Roswell: It seems futile. Imperial knight: It's no use... [more coming]

All of these quotes reflect either a collapse in one's belief they can contribute to the conflict, a reassessment of their priorities, or a questioning of their grasp of the reality around them. (the latter two imply a wavering of the will and a loss of concentration on the battle.) Characters can also be slain in combat if they let down their guard, something a momentary self-questioning can induce. Also, a person who has resolved to fight to the very last no matter what, may let down their guard in consequence to the extreme sense of inner peace felt from the decision to finally face one's inner demons head on. (consider Baldus' death as an example) Note that not all deaths imply a loss of morale: Kylier, for example, had high morale when she killed herself to destroy the Arc of Triumph. Therefore, morale and "hit points" or "stamina" are not equivalent concepts, even though they may function similarly for combat purposes.

Q: Why does using items raise morale?

A: As far as the medals go, it makes perfect sense: the leader who receives the medal has been honored, and received a vote of confidence from the commander-in-chief. This is a psychological boost to both the leader and those who might choose to serve under him. The same probably holds for items: it's a kind of honor suggesting that the leader of the troop is respectable and worthy of being followed.

Q: Why do characters go HIGH sometimes, but not others?

A: HIGH is a state of "high morale". It is a state of feeling invincible or emotionally charged, determined and driven. Since morale is itself a measure of a person's will in comparison to others, their ability to believe they can succeed and to enlist others in their pursuit of the same, a feeling that one is invincible or just within reach of absolute victory is very much a motivator to the leader and the lead. Similarly, a sense that one cannot lose or cannot give any give any more ground. Also, a sign of inner resolve to meet the enemy and to give it one's all. All of these are positions to be admired by the soldier who longs to serve under a strong leader in combat. It is not only the mind of the leader, but the mind of the soldier which creates an endless sea of morale. Only a crushing, pivotal blow can destroy such a relationship between the one and the many.

Q: Why did the Empire stop its invasion of Fantasinia?

A: Because Durant schemed to destroy the Empire's supply stations. With their supplies destroyed, the Empire went on the defensive. Their troops could not be replenished because their supply lines were cut, nor could they marshal all their troops to catch Yggdra, even though the rest of the resistance was creamed and Palatina firmly under their control. Although the Empire managed to wrap up its existing operations, it had no resources by which to further its expansion. Instead they were forced to stay near to the towns and cities, which put them in a firmly defensive posture. The liberation of these cities left them completely unsupplied and in retreat, until finally the entire kingdom of Fantasinia was liberated by the Royal Army.

Although the Empire hired mercenaries and bounty hunters to catch Yggdra, these were independent efforts which were largely supplied by the hirees own means. Aegina's unit was a task force with minimal supplies and troops, not a part of the main army headed by Baldus.

Q: Why did the Empire invade Fantasinia?

A: Stated reasons: to have the entire continent united under the rule of the strong; to catch Yggdra and sacrifice her to Brongaa. Fantasinia was the most powerful state on the continent, and also the largest: Embellia province and the Rose Domains could only be accessed through Fantasinia.

Q: Why did Gulcasa invade Meriant?

A: Several reasons:

1) to stop Yggdra's coronation; to stop her claiming of the power of the pheonix and the true power of the Gran Centurio. 2) to recapture Yggdra for the Brongaa resurrection ceremony. 3) Gulcasa was cocky, thinking the Awakening ceremony had made him invincible. Unfortunately for him, it was not complete, and he was merely deluded in believing himself filled with the power of Brongaa. (thus his HIGH status) 4) because Gulcasa understood Yggdra to be his chief rival for the rule of the continent; to eliminate her before she became more powerful than him; because Gulcasa anticipated an attack by Fantasinia if Yggdra became queen.

Q:Did Yggdra kil Gulcasa out of revenge?

A: She killed him to stop him from reviving Brongaa, which he was about to do. Gulcasa's will to power is indominable, such that he's willing to lose himself to the out of control power of Brongaa rather than cede to Yggdra. (Do note that unleashing that power razed his castle and killed everyone in it. He's perfectly willing to kill any number of his own people for the sake of power, the Genocide skill is proof of that.) So, Yggdra fought him to the death.

Q: Q. What is this "will" the game seems so fixated on?

A. "Will", as defined by Nietzsche (odd first name for a mermaid, don't you think?; it's a reference to the philosopher Fredrick Wilhelm Nietzsche) is the capacity to dominate others. Neitzsche believed that will was an innate trait, if an irrational one. Nietzsche saw the world as a struggle amongst competing wills for dominance. Dominant people become leaders; the non-dominant become followers. Nietzsche saw the process by which one person dominated another as primarily a phenomenon unconscious to either party; indeed, such struggles could manifest themselves as quietly and innocuously as a minor conflict of interests between friends: the friend whose interest wins out in this situation is the dominant will. So long as one will is clearly stronger than another, there are no overt conflicts between the parties. However, when two wills of similar strength collide, there is a high probability they will attempt to suppress one another.

(Apparently there are some Neitzsche fans at Sting. The man seems very popular nowadays, and subtle allusions to his works are increasingly common.)

Will is a pivotal concept in Yggdra Union because the Bronquians, and Gulcasa in particular, believe that the strongest will should be respected for what they are as ruler of the continent. The Bronquians want reality demonstrated for what it is: either Yggdra or Gulcasa possess the strongest will on the continent, and they want the de facto rulership of the stronger explicitly stated. This is a key motive for their invasion; however, Yggdra and Gulcasa are only the strongest active wills. The Bronquians sees Brongaa's will, which has been sealed up as potential by virtue of his slumber, as the ultimate explicit statement of dominant will; for if they can awaken a will stronger than any human's -- a god, no less -- then any human pretenses to continental dominace are ingeniune. To explicitly realize the strongest possible will: this is the fundamental Bronquian motive and an ideal they resolve to reach in Yggdra Union. It is the path to this end which frames their conflict with Fantasinia.