The Ground Beneath our Feet

The Ground Beneath our Feet
Characters	Nia and Mòrag
Location	Empire of Mor Ardain (grian, Wing Area #2)

The Ground Beneath our Feet is a 牵绊 in 异度神剑 2. It is located on one of the turret platforms on the western wing of the upper level of the Hardhaigh Palace area, overlooking Alba Cavanich. The discussion centers on ardainian' motivation for invading Gormott Province. If the party stays at Jakolo's Inn beforehand, Nia and Mòrag may engage in conversation that hints at this Heart-to-Heart's location.

Inn dialogue

Nia

"Hey, Mòrag. Do you know if there's a place round here with a good view of the whole town?"

Mòrag

"A good view of Alba Cavanich... Hmmm... As I recall, you can see a grand vista from Hardhaigh Palace... Like the second Wing Area, grian, for instance."

Nia

"That sounds awesome! Think you could show me up there?"

Introduction

Nia

"When I look at it now, this capital of yours is pretty prosperous."

"Far cry from Gormott."

Mòrag

"...Is that how you see it, Nia?"

Nia

"Well, am I wrong?"

"Your technology is so much more advanced than Gormott's, and you've got army facilities, hot springs..."

"Looks to me like you've got all you need right here. I guess I don't get why you had to go and annex Gormott..."

Mòrag

"...Mor Ardain generally has a rather hot climate, you see."

"We developed by actively exploiting technology which uses the heat, as well as that we obtained through salvage."

"But as the Titan nears the end of its lifetime, the temperature has started rising steadily."

"Ironically, while this has made our heat-powered technologies even more efficient..."

"Our farmland has done very much the opposite of flourish."

Nia

"The Titan's lifetime, huh..."

Mòrag

"Yes, it shouldn't be long now. The day when Mor Ardain's Titan becomes uninhabitable."

"Sensing that, the Senate started a war to conquer a new home for our people."

Nia

"...That'd be Gormott, then."

Mòrag

"...Indeed."

Nia

[What do I say to that?]

"You realize there was a better way?"

"All this because of dumb pride..."

Option 1 (No Change)

Nia

"You realize there was a better way?"

Mòrag

"...Was there, now?"

Nia

"Our two governments could've just talked, got to know each 其它, become friends..."

"We could've worked together on this!"

"Just like you and me. We were 敌人 at first, sure, but now we're allies, fighting on the same side."

"If our nations could've done the same, it wouldn't have had to come to war."

Mòrag

"...Perhaps so."

"If everyone in this world thought like you do, terror and strife wouldn't be so commonplace."

Nia

"Well, come on... You're not just gonna give up, are you?"

Mòrag

"What do you mean?"

Nia

"If there's no need for strife, then we should just get rid of it."

"Rex told us, right? If we reach the World Tree, there'll be no need for fighting any more."

Mòrag

"You think Elysium is the answer to all our troubles, do you?"

Nia

"I don't care if people laugh, call it a pipe dream, or whatever..."

"I'd rather be an optimist than just despair at the state of the world."

Mòrag

"Haha... You have a point."

Nia

"I 希梅莉 you'll lend us your strength to reach that goal, Mòrag. It'd be grand if we could count on your support."

Mòrag

"I will. They call me the Empire's finest, and I intend to prove it."

Option 2 (No Change)

Nia

"All this because of dumb pride..."

Mòrag

"What do you mean?"

Nia

"You didn't have to act so high and mighty. You coulda been humble."

"But no. I dunno if you were refusing to show weakness, or if you just felt you were better than us..."

"But you put your damn pride above all 其它 things and chose to invade. Am I wrong?"

"You started a war. Wanting to save lives, you ended up losing lives. How backwards is that?"

"If you can't make enough food..."

"why not just...bow your head and ask if you could share?"

"I mean, we were 敌人 once, but now we understand each 其它..."

"How could a sodding government not even think of it?"

Mòrag

"A point well made... But the world is not as straightforward a place as that."

"Sometimes the most obvious way is the most difficult to take."

Nia

"Cor... People are such a pain..."

Mòrag

"No question..."

"That's exactly why I want to support the boy, and 其它 upright people like him."

Nia

"You mean Rex?"

Mòrag

"A world with no strife... Can you imagine something so wonderful, if it were true?"

"And if there's anyone who could ever make it true, it's him."

"Every age needs its own dreamers to forge new paths, after all."

Nia

"Hah... You're full of surprises, Mòrag. You always struck me as straight-laced."

"But here you are, believing in the Elysium story."

Mòrag

"It's not just little boys and girls that follow their dreams, is it?"

"I too want to see the 水果 of this dream you all share. That's why I'm with you."

Nia

"Well, whatever your motive, it's nice to have you with us, Mòrag."

"Yeah, I think we can make good use of the Empire's finest!"

Mòrag

"Please do."

"No matter what path we tread, I'll be there to help you on the way..."