the icicle lodge
After crossing the Coral Valley Cave and snow fields, Cloud and group reach the Icicle Lodge.
If Cloud tries to head past the village to the thicket…
MAN BY THICKET NPC
No! Don’t! It gets really steep past here! It’s too dangerous.
CLOUD
-
I’ll take the risk
-
Yeah, you’re right
MAN BY THICKET NPC (I’ll take the risk)
Hey, I was only trying to be helpful. There’s no need to… …W-who are they? Looks like trouble!
Man By Thicket NPC runs off.
MAN BY THICKET NPC (Yeah, you’re right)
Don’t mention it. Anyone else would have done the same. I’m not too busy at the moment. Want me to teach you how to ride a snowboard?
CLOUD
-
Yeah, go on
-
I’m not interested
MAN BY THICKET (Yeah, go on)
A list of controls for the snowboarding minigame show. Need me to explain it again?
CLOUD
-
Yeah (If selected, the snowboarding minigame controls show again.)
-
No, thanks
MAN BY THICKET NPC (I’m not interested)
How boring!
When Cloud says that he'll take the risk, Yrena appears, accompanied by two Shin-Ra infantrymen.
YRENA
There they are! Hurry!!
SHIN-RA INFANTRYMAN NPC
Yes, ma’am!
Yrena and the two Shin-Ra grunts run up to Cloud.
YRENA
Cloud… …huff…wheeze… That’s as far as you go!
Cloud shrugs.
CLOUD
What’s up ahead.
YRENA
It’s classified!! Anyway, never mind that. Let’s talk about what you did to my boss!
CLOUD
Your boss? You mean Zeng? That wasn’t us. It was Sephiroth.
Yrena shakes her head.
YRENA
Think I’m stupid?
Cloud shakes his head.
CLOUD
I’m telling the truth. It was Sephiroth.
YRENA
You may as well drop the act! It’s not as if you’re going anywhere!
Cloud scratches his head.
CLOUD
Oh, boy…
Yrena crosses her arms and taps her foot for a second.
YRENA
Looks like words aren’t gonna cut it. I’ll just have to try something you can understand. We’ll deal with this jerk, ma’am.
SHIN-RA INFANTRYMAN NPC
We’ll deal with this jerk, ma’am.
YRENA
No, I can handle him. There’s no way he’ll dodge my punch.
SHIN-RA INFANTRYMAN NPC
Huh? …As you wish.
If Cloud dodges the punch, Yrena rolls down the hill and into the thicket. The infantrymen run after her.
SHIN-RA INFANTRYMEN NPCs
M-ma’am!?
Man By Thicket NPC comes out of hiding.
MAN BY THICKET NPC
What was that all about? They were kinda weak for Shin-Ra.
If Cloud doesn’t dodge the punch, he’ll fall face first and become unconscious. Yrena bends down next to him.
YRENA
What…? Why didn’t you move?
She turns and faces one of the infantrymen.
They’ll never cross the Great Glacier. Throw them in one of the houses.
Screen fades to black and Cloud wakes up in a house, which has an interior similar to a laboratory.
There are now two infantrymen outside guarding the entrance to Icicle Lodge.
Special Note: If Cloud was knocked out by Yrena, I conversation can be initiated with the guards. If he dodges Yrena’s punch, this cannot happen. There are also two new NPCs if Cloud is knocked unconscious, a girl with a sled and a man working on a roof.
SHIN-RA GUARD NPC
This village is under martial law!
CLOUD
-
(Better cooperate)
-
(Punch his lights out)
SHIN-RA GUARD NPC (Better cooperate)
I’m just doing my job.
SHIN-RA GUARD NPC (Punch his lights out)
Cloud raises his fist about to punch the guard.
Stop it—there are kids around!
Cloud lowers his arm.
Listen, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but… I hear something big’s about to happen far north. The president’s coming all the way from the main office to oversee things personally. So, stay put, will you?
If Cloud tries to go past them, he’ll get stopped.
SHIN-RA GUARD NPC
I’m just doing my job.
GIRL RIDING SLED NPC
Sledding’s fun!
If Cloud talks to her near the village entrance.
GIRL RIDING SLED NPC
Who are those men?
MAN ON ROOF NPC
I’ll never forget the day I moved here. I saw this man, all dressed in black, heading north. It was kind of eerie watching that cloak of his moving through the white snow…
If Cloud tries to run through the thicket again…
MAN BY THICKET NPC
I thought I told you no!?
He pushes Cloud out of the thicket.
You’ll collapse and die if you don’t have a snowboard and map. It’s that simple!
Cloud and the others begin exploring the lodge area.
GIRL BUILDING SNOWMAN 1 NPC
It’s almost done!
GIRL BUILDING SNOWMAN 2 NPC
I’m gonna build an even bigger one next time.
If Cloud enters the Weapon Shop to the left, a little and an old man in a rocket are behind the counter. The little girl turns around and smacks the old man.
LITTLE WEAPON SHOP GIRL NPC
Grandad, wake up! We have customers!
SHOPKEEPER
…mumble…mumble… Oh! Welcome!
If Cloud speaks to Shopkeeper again…
Our stock will dazzle your very eyes!
If Cloud heads inside the inn, there are two shirtless men sitting at a table. One wears blue shorts, the other orange…
BLUE SHORTS MAN NPC
They say there’s a deadly slope beyond here, and they won’t let me near it.
ORANGE SHORTS MAN NPC
Just my luck… We came all this way for nothing! What a load of crap!
A woman stands nearby at the inn’s counter.
NEARBY WOMAN NPC
Awwww! We came all the way from Costa del Sol for some snowboarding… Now it looks like we’ll have to head back!
There are two people behind the inn's lobby counter, regardless of which one Cloud talks to…
INNKEEPER NPC
It’s been colder than usual… We charge 200 gil a night. Would you like to stay?
CLOUD
-
Yes
-
No
INNKEEPER (Yes)
Have a pleasant sleep.
INNKEEPER (No)
Well, maybe some other time?
At the other side of the lobby is a furnace…
MAN BY FURNACE NPC
Whew! What is it? Don’t come too close, or you’ll get burned.
If Cloud heads downstairs to the inn’s bar, a woman sits at the bar. A man in overalls sits at the bar across from her.
If Cloud approaches her, she gets up off of her stool…
BAR WOMAN NPC
Hi, there! Oh, you look real strong… Would you like to talk?
CLOUD
-
Yeah, okay (If selected, she walks away and sits down at a far away bar stool.)
-
I’m not interested
BAR WOMAN NPC (Yeah, okay)
That guy over there was such a bore.
MAN IN OVERALLS NPC
Hmm… Was I boring her?
BAR WOMAN NPC (I’m not interested)
Well, that wasn’t very nice!
If Cloud passes without speaking to her…
BAR WOMAN NPC
Well, that wasn’t very nice!
MAN IN OVERALLS NPC
I heard there’s an enormous crater, far to the north. Something huge must’ve fallen from the sky a long time ago to create a hole like that!
BAR WOMAN NPC
Oh. Really?
If Cloud talks to the bartender...
BARTENDER
I’ve heard there’s a Snow Woman at the Great Glacier who hates hot springs. I think it’s just a myth to scare off travellers though.
At a table sits a blonde with two red headed gentlemen.
BLONDE NPC
He must’ve died a dog’s death. No matter how well equipped you are, you can’t hold out there two days.
REDHEAD MAN 1 NPC
I heard some guy went to the Great Glacier, up north. What an idiot. Apart from a local hot spring, the place is a frozen death trap.
REDHEAD MAN 2 NPC
You thinking of going north?
CLOUD
-
That’s the plan
-
Nope
REDHEAD MAN 2 NPC (That’s the plan)
In that case, you’re going to need a map. There might be one left at Holzhov’s house. He was a mountaineer.
REDHEAD MAN 2 NPC (Nope)
Oh. Well, there isn’t much here, but take a look around and relax for a bit.
At the other table sit two men in heavy clothing.
HEAVY CLOTHING MAN 1 NPC
Ever heard of a Cetra?
HEAVY CLOTHING MAN 2 NPC
The Cetra…? Oh. Yes. They were the Ancients.
HEAVY CLOTHING MAN 1 NPC
Well… the last surviving member of the Cetra lived right here in our village, you know. Her name was Ifalna. She knew a lot of things.
HEAVY CLOTHING MAN 2 NPC
Hm… I wonder what happened to her.
HEAVY CLOTHING MAN 1 NPC
I heard Shin-Ra took her somewhere.
HEAVY CLOTHING MAN 2 NPC
Shin-Ra and the Ancients… I smell something fishy.
If Cloud opens the bathroom door, a woman will be sitting on the toilet and jump up.
WOMAN ON TOILET NPC
Yaaaah!!
Woman On Toilet NPC punches Cloud, sits back down on the toilet, and slams the door shut.
If Cloud enters the large house to the right, an old woman sits in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace while a younger woman walks around. Occasionally, the young woman will stop and face the old woman.
YOUNG WOMAN NPC
Grandma, don’t fall asleep so close to the fire!
OLD WOMAN IN CHAIR NPC
Oh! Sorry! You’re right… It just feels so comfy.
OLD WOMAN IN CHAIR NPC
My husband left 20 years ago and never came back. He was heading for the foot of the Gaia cliff. It’s marked on the map.
YOUNG WOMAN NPC
My grandfather was a climber. They say he saw every corner of the Great Glacier. There is a map on the wall.
CLOUD
-
Look at the map (If selected, the map appears full screen, details are viewable.)
-
Take the map (If selected, Obtained Key Item Map of Great Glacier!)
There is man just outside the house.
MAN OUTSIDE HOUSE NPC
It’s nearly impossible to reach the north safely without a map. Take that one on the wall inside if you’re planning on heading that way.
If Cloud already took the map…
What a nerve! You’ve already torn it down!
While exploring, Cloud and the others find a vacant house. The inside looks like an abandoned lab, in the corner is a set of stairs that leads to a downstairs bedroom. There is a device with a video screen.
Special Note: This is the house that Cloud woke up in if knocked out by Yrena.
CLOUD
Play the video?
-
Yes
-
No (If selected, nothing happens.)
CLOUD (Yes)
-
The Crisis of the Planet
-
What Are the Weapons?
-
Private
-
Don’t watch (If selected, nothing happens.)
Cloud selects a video to watch.
THE CRISIS OF THE PLANET
A flashback of Ifalna and Professor Gusto shows. Professor Gusto aligns the camera, until he nods with satisfaction at its alignment, and approaches Ifalna.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Okay, the camera’s ready! Well, then, Ifalna, please tell me about the Cetra.
IFALNA
Around 2000 years ago, my ancestors, the Cetra, were said to have heard the planet screaming. It was the Cetra at Nordpol who first discovered its great wound.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
And where is the land known as Nordpol?
IFALNA
Nordpol refers to the area around here. This is where the Cetra began planet-reading.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
What exactly does planet-reading entail?
Ifalna faces away from the professor and raises her arms into a thinking pose.
IFALNA
I can’t explain it very well, but it’s like having a conversation with the planet. It is said that the planet spoke of having been wounded by something that fell from the sky.
Ifalna drops her arms and takes two steps forward.
Many thousands of Cetra gathered. They attempted to mitigate the planet’s injury. However, the wound was so deep that the planet still needed many years to heal itself.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Do the Ancients—sorry—the Cetra—possess special abilities to heal the planet?
Ifalna looks around, as though listening.
IFALNA
It’s not that kind of power. The planet’s energy is the combined life force of all living things. The Cetra tended the land in a desperate attempt to keep this essential energy from dissipating, but…
Professor Gusto raises his arms in a thinking pose.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Hm… So the reason why the ice in this area never melts is because the energy is concentrated at the wound?
Ifalna lowers her head.
IFALNA
Yes, but the energy used to heal the wound soon led to the land becoming impoverished. …So, the planet… …the planet suggested to the Cetra that they leave Nordpol, and… and yet…
PROFEESOR GUSTO
Ifalna… let’s take a break and try again later?
Ifalna turns to face Professor Gusto and shakes her head.
IFALNA
No, I’m all right. …It was when the Cetra were preparing to part with the land they had loved for countless years…
Ifalna faces away from Professor Gusto again.
…that it appeared! It took on the form of their dead mothers and fathers—deceased family members. To each it showed a ghost from the past.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Ifalna, just who was it that appeared at the Great Crater? I’m not following this at all.
IFALNA
The same one that injured the planet. We call it the Calamity from the Sky.
Ifalna lowers her head and buries it in her hands.
It approached the Cetra with a familiar face, deceived them, and then… infected them with a virus. The Cetra—infected with the virus—lost their minds and turned into monsters.
Ifalna drops to her knees. Professor Gusto walks over and rests his hand on her in comfort.
Then, just as with Nordpol, it approached the other Cetra clans. Again, the… virus…
PROFESSOR GUSTO
You look pale. Let’s call it a day.
Professor Gusto walks over to the machine that operates the camera and shuts the camera off.
WHAT ARE THE WEAPONS?
Professor Gusto fiddles with the camera operating machine, then takes a few steps toward Ifalna.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Ifalna, can you comment on the existence of the entities known as Weapons?
IFALNA
Yes, Professor.
Ifalna takes a few steps toward Professor Gusto.
The one that you mistook for a Cetra—the one that you named Jenova—THAT was the Calamity from the Sky. The planet came to realize that the Calamity from the Sky needed to be destroyed. Because as long as Jenova continued to exist, it would never fully heal from its injury.
Professor Gusto raises his arms in a thinking pose.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
So… the Weapons were born of the planet’s own will in order to defend against the threat?
IFALNA
Yes, but they were never actually used. A small number of surviving Cetra defeated and imprisoned Jenova. The planet bore the Weapons, but they were no longer needed.
Professor Gusto shrugs.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Does this mean they don’t exist anymore?
Ifalna takes a couple steps closer and shakes her head.
IFALNA
No. The Weapons cannot simply vanish. They are lying dormant somewhere… Even though Jenova was imprisoned, the Weapons may one day need to be awakened. The planet is still injured, and it is still wary of Jenova.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Where are they?
IFALNA
I don’t know. The planet’s voice… I can no longer hear it clearly. Times have changed. But… I’m sure the planet is keeping an eye on things…
Ifalna buries her head in her hands. Professor Gusto turns away from her, bends over and places his head in his hand in response. He straightens up and turns back to face her.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Thank you, Ifalna. I think that’s enough for today…
Professor Gusto walks over to the machine that operates the camera and shuts the camera off.
If Cloud selects Private, a menu with two videos come up. Nothing happens if Cloud selects Don’t watch.
PRIVATE – MY DAUGHTER: 10 DAYS OLD
The screen starts out black.
IFALNA
Profes… I mean, darling… What are you doing?
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Oh, I’m just trying to make a video. But there’s something wrong with the picture…
IFALNA
What do you need to record? Is there something I’ve missed?
PROFEESOR GUSTO
No, it’s not that. I’m going to record our beautiful daughter.
IFALNA
When she’s sleeping, she looks like a little angel. Forget the video for now. We have to decide on a name.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
We’ve already discussed this. We agreed if it’s a girl, she’d be called Aerith. And that’s final!
IFALNA
You always get your way. But Aerith is a good name. Hehe… Especially when you consider it came out of that stubborn head of yours!
PROFEESOR GUSTO
Haha! True. True. …Oh! The video’s running out of—
The video cuts off.
PRIVATE – MY DAUGHTER: 20 DAYS OLD
Professor Gusto fiddles with the machine that controls the camera. Ifalna walks over next to him, leans in, and shakes her head.
IFALNA
But you’ve only just finished recording one!
Professor Gusto turns to face Ifalna.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
…Please don’t say it like that. It’s our lovely daughter—both yours and mine! Don’t you want to capture her fleeting childhood?
IFALNA
If you keep doting on her like this, she may not grow up to be strong. Aerith is different from other children, after all. Who knows what kind of life awaits her…?
PROFESSOR GUSTO
You mustn’t say that! I will protect you and Aerith from anything!! Y-you’re my beloved treasures. I’ll never let you go—no matter what happens!
Ifalna puts her head in her hands.
IFALNA
Oh, darling, I… I’m so happy. If I hadn’t met you, I…
Professor Gusto and Ifalna hug. There’s a knock at the door. Professor Gusto turns around and scratches his head.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Now, who in the world could that be? Disturbing us like this…
Ifalna holds her hand up to her mouth and giggles. Professor Gusto turns to face her.
Intruding on our privacy. And here of all places.
IFALNA
Hehe…
She leans in teasingly.
I’ll be right there! Who could it be?
Ifalna walks over to the door and opens it.
You’re…!!
Ifalna runs behind Professor Gusto. Two Shin-Ra Infantrymen and Hojo walk in.
HOJO
Heh, heh, heh. I’ve been searching for you, Ifalna. Or should I say… Cetra! …Hello, Professor Gusto. Long time no see!
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Hojo… How did you find me?
HOJO
Goodness knows it wasn’t easy. But I’ve known of your whereabouts for some time now. Two years I waited. That’s testament to how much I desired this new specimen… Heh, heh, heh.
Ifalna begins to cry. Professor Gusto shakes his head and grabs Hojo by the coat. The infantrymen aim their rifles at Professor Gusto.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
New specimen? Surely you can’t mean Aerith!?
Hojo pushes the professor off of himself.
HOJO
Oh, ‘Aerith’? What a lovely name. Heh, heh.
Professor Gusto bends over and puts his head in his hand.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Ugh… I severed all ties with Shin-Ra. Leave here at once!
Ifalna runs over and drops to her knees at Hojo’s feet.
IFALNA
Please!
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Ifalna!
IFALNA
Leave Aerith out of this! You have what you came for!
HOJO
I’ll be needing all of you for my experiments.
Hojo turns to face Professor Gusto and shrugs.
Professor Gusto, you understand, of course? I can change the world!
Professor Gusto kneels down and places his hand on Ifalna.
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Don’t worry, Ifalna. I’ll deal with these thugs!
HOJO
Please come quietly. I don’t wish any harm to come to my precious specimen.
Hojo turns to face the camera.
Mm? What a funny looking camera. You! Destroy it!
One of the infantrymen turns to the camera and aims his rifle at it. A gunshot sounds and the screen goes black.
HOJO
Careful now. Haw, haw, haw!
A punching sound is heard.
IFALNA
W-what are you doing!?
PROFESSOR GUSTO
Ifalna! Take Aerith and run!
A gunshot is heard and well as something falling to the floor.
IFALNA
Eyaaaaaah! Darling!
HOJO
Oh, well. Don’t forget the child, now. Hello, what’s this? The Ancients…? The Weapons…!? Heh, heh… A treasure trove! Why, thank you, Professor! Haw, haw, haw!
The camera equipment shuts off entirely.
Continuing exploration of Icicle Lodge, eventually, Cloud and the others enter the small house in the middle.
WOMAN IN PURPLE NPC
My boy hurt himself right after we moved here. I never should have bought him that accursed snowboard.
In the back room of the house, a boy sits on the floor. The boy stands up and looks at his snowboard.
BOY NPC
I got hurt on my snowboard and now I can’t play out. …sniff…
The boy turns to face Cloud.
Hey, I’ll let you have it, okay? Let me know if you get good.
Obtained Key Item Snowboard!
With the map and snowboard, Cloud and group return to the thicket.
MAN BY THICKET NPC
Sorry I ran off, but I could smell trouble. Anyhow… to make it down the slope, you’ll need a snowboard. I can teach you how to ride one?
CLOUD
-
Sounds like a good idea
-
I’m not interested
MAN BY THICKET NPC (Sounds like a good idea)
The controls for the snowboarding minigame come up. Need me to explain it again?
CLOUD
-
Yeah (If selected, the controls show and Man By Thicket NPC asks again if he needs to reexplain again.)
-
No, thanks (If selected, the conversation ends.)
MAN BY THICKET NPC (I’m not interested)
I just don’t understand you. Well, don’t blame me when you get hurt.
Cloud runs off into the thicket, toward the slope.
MAN BY THICKET NPC
Be careful!
Cloud and the others snowboard down the slopes toward the Great Glacier.