The Legend of Heroes IV - Akai Shizuku (aka The Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of Vermillion) is a role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the fourth game in the The Legend of Heroes series, and the First in the series' "Gagharv Trilogy". It was originally released in 1996 for the NEC PC-9801. This was followed by a 1998 release for the PlayStation and a 1999 release for Microsoft Windows PCs.
Another version of the game was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005. This version was later translated and released in the United States, making it the first US-released Legend of Heroes game since Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes for the TurboGrafx-16. The US release dropped the number from the title, and was known as simply "The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion".
Some confusion was caused by the US release of this game. While the remake of The Legend of Heroes IV was the first to be released in the US, the PSP remake of its predecessor, The Legend of Heroes III, had been released several months before it in Japan. The Legend of Heroes III was eventually released in the US in 2006, with its title changed to The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch.
THE STORY:
Opening
The setting for the fourth of the Legend of Heroes and the first in the Gagharv Trilogy takes place in the fictional land El Phildin, fifty-six years before "Moonlight Witch". The story begins with an insight to the past. Avin and Eimelle are orphaned children living in Cathedral. Avin was 8 while Eimelle was 7. Avin retrieves milk for the cat Eimelle brought into the chapel. They both watch the kitten drink to its content. Before long, Oracle Ollesia yells at them to take cover. Cathedral is under attack.
Lord Bellias and his minions attack the chapel. He is after Eimelle who he calls "Durga's Daughter." He is stopped by Supreme Priest Esperius. Both have a conversation of how Bellias used to be destined to lead the Bardus Church someday and how Bellias became traitorous. The two wizards fight each other. Esperius dies after being attacked with a rising spell.
The two kids and their oracle attempt an escape before being captured by Bellias. Gawaine, the "Sage of power," fights to fend off the attack. The rest make an exit to the monster cart. The cat screeches after hearing the spell cast. Avin tried to rescue the cat, but is left in Gawaine's care. Ollesia and Eimelle escape to another place.
Prologue
Avin wakes up in the "Sage of Mercy's" house. Avin feels sick that he couldn't save Eimelle. Lemuras, the Sage of Mercy, tells him that he heard about the situation from Gawaine. He tells him that he couldn't do anything. Avin asks about Eimille only to hear that he doesn't know. Lemuras tells him that there will be a grave situation if he knew about her existence. He tells Avin to deliver a letter to someone in Ourt Village. There, he learns about his home. After getting the letter, someone chases him. That person is Mile. He gets a red marble and then goes back. Sage Lemuras tells him of the Festival of Nepthys, the town deity. Avin joins Mile in finding the two charms and throws them into the pond going the Nepthys' shrine to grant the wish. Avin wishes to see his sister again.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
- Avin (Age 17): The main protagonist. He sets out on a journey to find his sister Eimelle who has been separated from him for years. He has a short temper and is very impetuous, but is usually kept in check by his calm best friend Mile.
- Eimelle (Age 15): A kindhearted and modest girl. Avin's young sister and only family. Her kindness extends even to those who would hurt her, as she treats the wounds of one bested enemy. She is known as "Durga's Daughter", an important figure in the plans of Octum's Apostles.
- Rutice (Age 16): The main heroine, at least the for the latter half of the game. A member of the heretics under Bellias, but later reneges when their methods prove too cruel. Plagued with self-doubt about her path in life, she gradually falls in love with Avin as he supports her.
- Mile (Age 18): Avin's close friend. He is concerned about Avin, and travels together with him. His calm demeanor allows him to defuse his friend's anger, protecting him from making mistakes.
- Shannon (Age 17): A pure and innocent girl. She is rescued by Avin and his party and instantly falls for Mile when she wakes up and sees him. Her outspoken love and affection for her "prince" perturbs Mile greatly.
- Martie (Age 19): A young adventurer who is training to become a minister for the Royal Family. He uses the bounties he earns adventuring to pay for his tuition. He is the first character that joins Avin and Mile on their quest.
- Muse (Age 18): A mysterious and confident young woman who uses a whip and helps the party fight the Syamseal Gang, who are threatening the kingdom. MUSE is an acronym of her true name.
- Douglas (Age 28): One of the Adventurer's Guild's most prolific adventurers, "Lightning Sword" Douglas is a skilled swordsman who befriends Avin and Mile. He is training himself to one day use the Thunder Sword, a keepsake from his deceased master.
- Lucias (Age 21): Another renowned adventurer and Douglas' eternal rival, "Sapphire Eyes" Lucias is an exceptionally fast swordswoman who also trained with Douglas' master. Her relationship with Douglas is prickly at best, though she helps the party regardless of his presence.
- Archem (Age 16): A young girl from Spirit Forest who is good friends with the friendly Meefa creatures that inhabit it. She helps the party stop the Meefa hunts and develops a crush on Avin.
- Baron Conrad (Age late 20s): The benevolent leader of Balloa, who takes it upon himself to protect his land alongside his soldiers. This tends to worry his wife Theresa.
- Rael (Age 13): An exceptionally talented sorcery student who often cuts class. His teachers worry about his mischievous attitude, especially considering his potential for spellcraft.
- Professor Elenoa (Age Unknown (20s)): A talented sorcery instructor who takes it upon herself to reel in her errant student Rael. She and Rael usually help the party as a pair.
- Michel De Lap Heaven (Age Unknown): A mysterious sorcerer who helps Avin, Rutice & Gawaine on their journey. You originally meet him on Truth Island. He also appears in The Legend Of Heroes: Song of the Ocean and The Legend Of Heroes: Prochecy Of The Moonlight Witch as an old man by the name of Grandpa Lap.
- Thomas (Age 18):A young sailor with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He is the owner of the Planetos (originally Gawaine's) and wants nothing more than to navigate across the ocean to new lands.
- Rouca (Age 13): A young teenager who is actually Rutice's brother. He is an able young engineer who works in Guia, an industrial city. At the end of the game, he upgrades the Planetos and it evantually becomes the Planetos II.
- Madram (Age ~30s) : A powerful warrior who trained under Gawaine. He seeks revenge for the death of Dominique, the previous Daughter of Durga. He is aligned to neither God, resenting that the war between them cost him the love of his life.
- Dominique (Age Unknown) : She was the "Durga's Daughter" before Eimelle. Octum's Apostles murdered her before the game begins.
Manufacturer's description:
RPG PC games acclaim [work] Legend of Heroes A Tear of Vermilion 4 ports. Enjoy your own story Opunshinarioshisutemu undertake the work, with the battle system Takutikarukonbatto. Avin and the hero, trying to explore the vast continent of the earth running north-south rift Gagabu huge Aimeru with folks to find her little sister.
Features:
- Third person perspective.
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Medieval Fantasy theme.
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