I resumed Suikoden V in the ‘town’ of Raftfleet, where I upgraded my armour, met the admiral that ran the town (who turned out to be another friend of Sialeeds’), and turned over the troublemakers.

Upon returning to Sol-Falena, the queen got all gushy about how my sister and I were growing up, and then Gizel arrived and the betrothal party was held. After leaving the party, there was some more scheming by Gizel, and I found myself attacked by assassins. I then ran into Gizel’s gladiator from the Sacred Games and was forced into losing the fight against him, but another Knight and gladiator showed up to rescue me. However, I learned that the queen and king were now dead, and everyone thought it best to flee. A bunch of cutscenes showed that my sister was still safe, at least.

I made my way to Lunas and talked to the oracle there, but had to flee again as a search party was approaching. I headed to Haud Village, in the territory of the other house that had been competing for the princess, and it was a rather…gaudy town overrun with crazy artists. There I met an officer of the House of Barows who then took me the rest of the way to meet the Barows family.

The head of the Barows house and his son are still as slimy as they were when we first met them, but they’re at least friendly, and I was introduced to his lovely daughter, who is a likely love interest for the prince. We were once again followed and attacked by Gizel’s troops though, and I saved for the night just before the first strategy battle of the game.