- Long ago, invaders from beyond the sky, the Astrals, went to war with the skydwellers and used powerful creatures known as primal beasts to fight. Primal beasts are beings akin to gods, or more abstractly, materialized concepts. The skydwellers learned from their enemies and eventually took back the skies in the conflict. The skies is now known as the Sky Realm, a world of fragmented lands floating in a sea of clouds. In present time, most primal beasts lay dormant in crystals on the islands.
- What the Astrals truly are is an enigma. Though they sound like they may be super-powered beings, similar to deities that can live nigh immortal, they can also be killed much like mortals. Orchis is a half-human and half-Astral hybrid. Orchis's father is an Astral, but when he first met her mother Viola, a mortal skydweller, he appeared to be about the same age. To know who Orchid is, you need to understand the background of the original Princess Orchis (with an "s".)
- The Erste Kingdom and its royal family was involved in a tragic accident with the primal beast Deus Ex Machina. Freesia used dark essence, a crystal with artificial Astral power, to lift the seal on the primal. The primal went on a rampage, killing the king and queen. Princess Orchis survived, but had her soul drawn out. At the time, the truth of her state was only known by Adam, a loyal subject of the Erste Kingdom. Official reports claimed that Orchis had disappeared and that her parents were killed outside the country. In reality, she was hidden by the Erste Empire. Erste Kingdom then turned into a militaristic empire and the capital was moved from Ravi Island to Agastia Island.
- The empty shell Orchis stopped aging and became void of all emotion. In exchange, she awakened the power of the Astrals. Apollonia, childhood friend of the princess, became determined to restore Orchis to her original self. Little did she know that a blank soul resided within the empty shell. And little did she know that the soul was developing a personality of her own. As the newfound life grew within the empty shell, the original soul of the princess remained displaced, drifting around in nothingness.
- Ten years after the incident, the Black Knight (Apollo) takes the doll Orchis as her charge and hires two mercenaries, Sturm and Drang to work along with her. The Grandcypher crew tracks down Orchis on Lumacie Archipelago. Lyria and Io offer their friendship to Orchis. The doll begins showing a desire to stay with her newfound friends. When the Black Knight asks about the doll's behavior, she is told that Orchis acted like a normal girl around the skyfaring crew. The Black Knight is surprised by their claims, having only thought the doll to be completely emotionless.
- When Orchis is placed within the custody of the Prime Minister of Erste, Freesia, the Grandcypher crew forms an alliance with the Black Knight to track her down.
- Freesia plans to use Orchis and Lyria to summon Akasha, a primal beast with the power to alter history. Her plan is to restore the Erste Kingdom back to its glory days by erasing the Astrals from history. Orchis, under mind control, nearly uses Lyria to gain access to Akasha's power. Memories of the crew trying to reach out to her flashes back in her mind and she breaks from Freesia's control, stopping herself from committing a tragedy.
- When Freesia's initial plan fails, she flees to Agastia to turn the souls of its residents into pseudo-Astral energy to awaken Akasha. The Grandcypher crew depart for the Erste Empire capital to put an end to her scheme.
- After the battle at the Erste Empire capital, a showdown between the Black Knight and the crew takes place in Mephorash. The victor determines the fate of Orchis. Even though Black Knight grew to have feelings for the doll Orchis, she refuses to back down from her dream of reviving her best friend from the past. She's conflicted and uses the duel to determine the fate of the young girl.
- Ultimately, the Grandcypher crew emerges victorious. Despite her loss, the Black Knight is relieved, even though it means she may not see her best friend again. Regardless, Orchis tries to sacrifice herself, wanting to return her body to its original owner and fulfill Black Knight's dream. She claims that nothing ever belonged to her in the first place. The princess hears of the girl's tough decision and reveals that she (along with Adam) made preparations for the new soul.
- Using Deus Ex Machina, the soul of the princess returns to her human body. The new soul that grew within the vessel is then transferred into a golem body. The "doll" acquires her new name, Orchid. With a body and name that she could finally call her own, Orchid demands Apollo to treat her as her own person and no longer as a substitute, to which she agrees.
- The Erste Empire has dissolved and the Grandcypher crew is no longer on the run. The Captain's crew decide to continue their journey collecting Sky Map pieces and finding a way to the land of Astrals, Estalucia. Orchid had gone her separate way from the crew, now residing in the Palace of Elijah Chelm. Black Knight left Orchid in Mephorash to journey alone. Orchis, now Queen Orchis, works on restoring Erste Kingdom with Adam.
- Somewhere in a neglected area in the palace, Orchid finds a room filled with all sorts of androids and golems. One particular war machine golem named Lloyd catches her eye, who she befriends. Though he lacks any sentience, Orchid would visit and talk to him often.
- The primal beast Akasha is still causing problems for the Erste Kingdom's military. After learning of the issue with Akasha, Orchid convinces Adam and Orchis to seal Akasha inside Lloyd and allow the two to travel while guarding each other. This would begin Orchid's journey of isolation, as a means to protect her loved ones.
- Sometime during her travels, Orchid senses Queen Orchis in danger. She rushes to Agastia Island to find Orchis. This leads into her involvement with the second arc.
- Freesia escapes her jail cell and takes Queen Orchis hostage in a tower located in Agastia. Orchid makes her reappearance, along with Lloyd, rescuing the queen from the former prime minister's grasp. She would also reunite with the Grandcypher crew.
- Freesia is in shambles and doesn't understand why Orchid is trying to protect her from herself. But even though she commited many unforgivable atrocities, Orchid is also grateful to her. Without her, Orchid would have never been born.
- Moved by Orchid's words, Freesia manages to calm down. She quietly decides to watch over the ones that the former queen had left behind, the two girls: Orchis and Orchid. She would also give the Grandcypher crew the location of one of the Sky Map pieces.
- The Grandcypher crew leaves Agastia and returns to the royal palace on Ravi Island. Sturm arrives with news that Drang has been taken hostage by the Istavion Troop from Oarlyegrande, a different skydom. Orchid and Sturm decide to join the Grandcypher crew in a rescue effort.
- They arrive at the Silverwind Stretch, where they believe the troop's secret base is located. They're attacked by a primal beast named Dykotomus, who winds up splitting up the group in an avalanche. The division leaves Orchid with Io, Eugen, and Rosetta. Orchid pushes herself too hard, using Lloyd to protect everyone from monsters. They're found by the Istavion troop, who they surrender themselves to. Also as an opportunity to give Orchid a chance to rest. They're brought to the Istavion fortress and join Drang in his prison cell. Despite the circumstances, they believe the others will come rescue them.
- As expected, the other half of the crew crashes the fortress, accompanied by a Silverwind Stretch resident named Hal. Hal saved the Captain's group and now they're carrying out a request for him (which is to see more of the world outside of his village.)
- Drang picks the lock to allow them to join in on the invasion. The Golden Knight silently allows them to escape. Just before he leaves the cell, the knight has a job proposal for him.
- After escaping the fortress and returning to the Grim Basin, the crew heads for the mountain top. Now that Drang's been saved, they realize there isn't much reason for Sturm, Drang, and Orchid to continue traveling with the others. But they also want to see what's at the mountain top.
- Heading topside, they fight the primal beast Dykotomus to help free it from its pain. The primal passes its power to Lyria and gives the crew another Sky Map piece.
- At the top, they see a glimpse of another skydom: Nalhegrande Skydom. The winds of the Grim Basin suddenly divides the crew in different directions. Nearby, the Astral Loki and the primal beast Fenrir look on.
- While on Nalhegrande, though not seen in a handful of chapters, it's later revealed that Orchid has been with Strum and Drang, working for the Golden Knight.
- The mercenaries, Orchid, and the Golden Knight had previously engaged in a clandestine agreement while on Silverwind Stretch. Which was for the Golden Knight to allow their escape in exchange for a future favor. Ever since coming to Nalhegrande, the trio have followed her order in looking into the Scarlet Knight's whereabouts.
- While Orchid stays with Sturm and Drang, the rest of the Grandcypher crew are eventually reunited in Nalhegrande. They would also be joined by Nalhegrande residents, Cain, Reinhardtzar, and Leona, all three who work for the Idelva army.
- On Bestia Island, Cain then encounters Gilbert, who knocks him and Reinhardtzar off the island with a powerful blast. Orchid and Lloyd save the pair from falling from the island with her threads. She's accompanied by Sturm and Drang. After the rescue, they leave a message for Cain to pass along to the captain: stop Gilbert and the Istavion Kingdom for the Nalhegrande Skydom. If they fail to do so, there will be nothing but destruction for the skies.
After they say their piece, they leave Cain and his company to their own vices. When the captain's crew are informed of their message and safety after being divided at the Grim Basin, Katalina judges that the trio are making their own preparations and gathering information.
- Sturm, Drang, Orchid are later seen by the Golden Knight's side in the dining hall of the royal palace on Reiche Island. The trio indulge in themselves while Golden Knight divulges her plans to Hal. Hal has agreed to come with the Golden Knight in exchange for leaving the people on the Silverwind Stretch unharmed. Golden Knight informs Hal would be the perfect candidate to be the first king of the new Torhid Kingdom as a figurehead. He refuses to go along with the plan and later finds himself in jail with the sovereign Pholia.
- The Golden Knight receives reports on the movements of the Scarlet Knight from Sturm, Drang, and Orchid, for she is suspicious of his commitment to the True King's intentions. When informed of the Grandcypher crew's presence on Reiche Island, she moves to intercept. The agents and Orchid remain behind in the room, praying for the Captain's safety.
- Gilbert comes to Pholia and Hal's prison cell. He blasts Pholia with otherworldly energy, knocking her unconscious. Before he can turn his power on to Hal, Drang appears and saves the boy. Orchid follows up behind Drang, explaining that they wanted to save the prisoners while the captain's crew were outside fighting. But Gilbert had beat them to it. Gilbert blasts his surroundings and uses it as a distraction to flee with Pholia. The trio chases Gilbert down.
- The trio manage to catch up with Gilbert. Orchid tells Sturm and Drang to stay back and intends to fight him using Lloyd. After a fight with Gilbert, Orchid is backed into a corner. He manages to overcome Orchid's onslaught. Sturm and Drang move to protect their friend. The captain's crew show up before the fight concludes in tragedy.
- The entire crew is reunited and fights off Gilbert. Though subdued, he flees with the sovereign using his abnormal strength. The Grandcypher crew sets off after Gilbert to Starke Island for the final battle.
- After landing on Starke Island, the group runs into Monika and Lecia, who are fighting otherworldly beings. They surmise that Gilbert is planning to use a teleportation circle in the palace ruins to enter the Great Wall. Orchid, Sturm, and Drang are among the group that remains behind to deal with the monsters heading for the island as a means to keep the path clear. The rest of the crew head for the ruins and defeat Gilbert.
- While Gilbert is stopped, he manages to drag himself to a teleportation circle to enter the Great Wall. The Great Wall is an ancient relic capable of wreaking divine retribution. Gilbert wants its power to control all skies.
- At the Great Wall, he is met by the True King, the Erune king who claims dominion over all skydoms and leads the Luminary Knights. The True King transforms Gilbert into a living gate that connects to the Otherworld. He intends to activate the Great Wall by using Gilbert as fuel and Hal as a key. The Scarlet Knight, Baragona arrives and reveals the True King sacrificed Torhid's king and queen to the wall in the same manner, which caused the divine retribution five years ago. Baragona fuses with the wall as his final duty to the Torhid royal family.
- Baragona, now fused with the Great Wall, begs the crew to destroy him along with the wall, but the Captain vows to save him instead. The crew defeats Baragona, freeing him from the Great Wall and destroying the gigantic structure in the process. During the escape, the Grandcypher crew's airship plummets to the bottom of the sky battered by the wall's falling debris.
- Orchid, Sturm, and Drang are not seen among the group, though presumably they're aboard a separate airship.
- The Erste Empire that once terrorized the skydom is no more, thanks to the efforts of the crew. Ever since then Erste has been rebuilding itself as a kingdom that works to further the prosperity of Phantagrande, with Queen Orchis at its lead.
- During Orchid, Sturm, Drang's absence: The young Queen Orchis of the Erste Kingdom, with Prime Minister Adam beside her, has been in Port Breeze for a few days now. She's come to promote economic relations with Port Breeze in order to help Erste get back on its feet. The Queen takes a walk in the city along with Adam and Sierokarte, where they realize just how prolific the Grandcypher crew has become after saving the Phantagrande Skydom. However, the manner in which these stories have spread, remains a mystery.
- A group of children mistaken the Queen Orchis for the golem girl Orchid. The queen corrects their misunderstanding and tells them that she's more like Orchid's big sister.
- The Queen questions the children's mother about how they're aware of Orchid's story. She's surprised the children refer to her as a golem. The mother explains that they're both famous as the legendary crew in Port Breeze, saying "Orchid, born out of a series of miracles." In a sense, she's become a symbol of peace in Phantagrande. The Queen becomes suspicious on how the people know of their tales. It's true the stories have become widespread, but it's unknown as to who first told their tales.
- Last that the Erste Kingdom knew of Orchid's whereabouts, she had gone missing at the Silverwind Stretch. One day, Sierokarte rushes to Mephorash to tell the Queen that the Holy Erste Empire had taken over Golonzo Island. The so-called Holy Erste Empire claims to have Orchid with them. Although there is some resemblance, it turns out to be a different golem girl.
- Having conquered both Golonzo and Valtz, the Holy Erste Empire arrives in Port Breeze and soon clashes with the allied forces waiting there. Pommern and Orchis are directing the defense effort when they're surrounded by soldiers, but they're saved by the sudden intervention of the Grandcypher crew. After the crew's fall into the Edgelands from Nalhegrande, they were eventually able to ride an eruption that returned them to the Sky Realm.
- A Harvin man named Furias leads the Holy Erste Empire, sending a wave of soldiers equipped with titan suits to attack the crew. When the battle starts to look grim, Drang, Sturm, and Orchid arrive to aid the crew. With their support, they take out the empire's new weaponry. But soon enough, more titan suits replace them. Among the waves is a golem girl with red eyes who announces that she will kill Orchid to become her.
- Drang, Sturm, and Orchid manage to defeat the golem girl single-handedly. Furias exchanges Golonzo's liberty for the golem girl and then orders his troops to evacuate. Orchid learns that the golem girl is made from her trial parts, leading everyone to suspect both the Violet Knight and the True King's involvement with the Holy Erste Empire.
- Prime Minister Adam visits Freesia who remains in the Ravi Island prison to request her assistance in the fight against the Holy Erste Empire. Apollo is also on hand, and when news of the empire's invasion of Ravi is announced, she urges the conflicted prisoner to make a decision.
- Emergency reports of the imperial invasion on Ravi reach the Grandcypher crew. At the time, the Grandcypher is being repaired and won't be finished on time. The crew leaves the ship and Rackam behind to head for Ravi Island to help the Erste Kingdom.
- The destructive force of war reaches Ravi's capital, with Zwei and her titan-suit soldiers confronting Orchis's entourage. Adam, Drang, and Sturm create an opening for Orchis and Orchid toescape, but this is exactly what the golem girl wants. Zwei corners the two unescorted girls and attacks.
- Zwei attacks Orchid and wrests control of Lloyd. The queen Orchis shields the fallen Orchid, and just as Zwei is about to kill them both, the Black Knight and Freesia arrive to save the two girls. Despite Orchis escaping with her life, she suddenly falls unconscious, which draws attention from Zwei, who uses that chance to flee.
- When the crew arrive on Ravi Island, Adam informs them that Queen Orchis is still unconscious. For now, recovering Lloyd--who contains Akasha, the primal beast coveted by the True King--comes first, and the crew makes preparations for Valtz to get Lloyd back from Zwei.
- While a battle rages between two armies in the desert, the captain and company split up inside the Valtz Duchy's Grand Arsenal, with the captain's group looking for Lloyd and Orchid's group (Queen Orchis, Sturm, Drang) staying with Zwei in an underground prison. The Violet Knight makes a surprise visit to finish off Zwei, but an Astral comes to stop him: Loki.
- Loki holds off the Violet Knight so that Orchid's group takes the chance to escape from the prison, taking Zwei with them. He urges Zwei to remember it was Furias who gave her a name and recognized her existence. Elsewhere, the Grandcypher crew runs into Furias, who refuses to surrender Lloyd.
- Furias, or at least the rational psyche that was separated from the real Furias, falls at the hands of the crew and reveals the locations of Lloyd. Zwei arrives just as Furias dies, which sends a shock to her system. Loki takes her by the hand, and they both vanish. With Valtz liberated, the crew sets a course for Nalhegrande to retrieve Lloyd.
- The crew stock up on supplies in the Erste Kingdom before they embark on a mission to recover Lloyd from the Violet Knight. Orchid is unable to join the crew and is needed to stay at the kingdom to recover. Orchis, Orchid, and the Black Knight request that Akasha, who is still inside Lloyd, be destroyed once Lloyd is back in their possession. Finally, Orchis and Orchid ask the captain to see if anything can be done for Zwei. Orchid and Orchis both have a wish to apologize to Zwei and save her. If Zwei is suffering, they want to make sure she isn't alone.
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puppetgirl) wrote2018-06-23 02:56 pm
ARC 1: GIRL IN BLUE
- What the Astrals truly are is an enigma. Though they sound like they may be super-powered beings, similar to deities that can live nigh immortal, they can also be killed much like mortals. Orchis is a half-human and half-Astral hybrid. Orchis's father is an Astral, but when he first met her mother Viola, a mortal skydweller, he appeared to be about the same age. To know who Orchid is, you need to understand the background of the original Princess Orchis (with an "s".)
- The Erste Kingdom and its royal family was involved in a tragic accident with the primal beast Deus Ex Machina. Freesia used dark essence, a crystal with artificial Astral power, to lift the seal on the primal. The primal went on a rampage, killing the king and queen. Princess Orchis survived, but had her soul drawn out. At the time, the truth of her state was only known by Adam, a loyal subject of the Erste Kingdom. Official reports claimed that Orchis had disappeared and that her parents were killed outside the country. In reality, she was hidden by the Erste Empire. Erste Kingdom then turned into a militaristic empire and the capital was moved from Ravi Island to Agastia Island.
- The empty shell Orchis stopped aging and became void of all emotion. In exchange, she awakened the power of the Astrals. Apollonia, childhood friend of the princess, became determined to restore Orchis to her original self. Little did she know that a blank soul resided within the empty shell. And little did she know that the soul was developing a personality of her own. As the newfound life grew within the empty shell, the original soul of the princess remained displaced, drifting around in nothingness.
- Ten years after the incident, the Black Knight (Apollo) takes the doll Orchis as her charge and hires two mercenaries, Sturm and Drang to work along with her. The Grandcypher crew tracks down Orchis on Lumacie Archipelago. Lyria and Io offer their friendship to Orchis. The doll begins showing a desire to stay with her newfound friends. When the Black Knight asks about the doll's behavior, she is told that Orchis acted like a normal girl around the skyfaring crew. The Black Knight is surprised by their claims, having only thought the doll to be completely emotionless.
- When Orchis is placed within the custody of the Prime Minister of Erste, Freesia, the Grandcypher crew forms an alliance with the Black Knight to track her down.
- Freesia plans to use Orchis and Lyria to summon Akasha, a primal beast with the power to alter history. Her plan is to restore the Erste Kingdom back to its glory days by erasing the Astrals from history. Orchis, under mind control, nearly uses Lyria to gain access to Akasha's power. Memories of the crew trying to reach out to her flashes back in her mind and she breaks from Freesia's control, stopping herself from committing a tragedy.
- When Freesia's initial plan fails, she flees to Agastia to turn the souls of its residents into pseudo-Astral energy to awaken Akasha. The Grandcypher crew depart for the Erste Empire capital to put an end to her scheme.
- After the battle at the Erste Empire capital, a showdown between the Black Knight and the crew takes place in Mephorash. The victor determines the fate of Orchis. Even though Black Knight grew to have feelings for the doll Orchis, she refuses to back down from her dream of reviving her best friend from the past. She's conflicted and uses the duel to determine the fate of the young girl.
- Ultimately, the Grandcypher crew emerges victorious. Despite her loss, the Black Knight is relieved, even though it means she may not see her best friend again. Regardless, Orchis tries to sacrifice herself, wanting to return her body to its original owner and fulfill Black Knight's dream. She claims that nothing ever belonged to her in the first place. The princess hears of the girl's tough decision and reveals that she (along with Adam) made preparations for the new soul.
- Using Deus Ex Machina, the soul of the princess returns to her human body. The new soul that grew within the vessel is then transferred into a golem body. The "doll" acquires her new name, Orchid. With a body and name that she could finally call her own, Orchid demands Apollo to treat her as her own person and no longer as a substitute, to which she agrees.
FATE Episode
- Somewhere in a neglected area in the palace, Orchid finds a room filled with all sorts of androids and golems. One particular war machine golem named Lloyd catches her eye, who she befriends. Though he lacks any sentience, Orchid would visit and talk to him often.
- The primal beast Akasha is still causing problems for the Erste Kingdom's military. After learning of the issue with Akasha, Orchid convinces Adam and Orchis to seal Akasha inside Lloyd and allow the two to travel while guarding each other. This would begin Orchid's journey of isolation, as a means to protect her loved ones.
- Sometime during her travels, Orchid senses Queen Orchis in danger. She rushes to Agastia Island to find Orchis. This leads into her involvement with the second arc.
ARC 2: DAWNING SKY
- Freesia is in shambles and doesn't understand why Orchid is trying to protect her from herself. But even though she commited many unforgivable atrocities, Orchid is also grateful to her. Without her, Orchid would have never been born.
- Moved by Orchid's words, Freesia manages to calm down. She quietly decides to watch over the ones that the former queen had left behind, the two girls: Orchis and Orchid. She would also give the Grandcypher crew the location of one of the Sky Map pieces.
- The Grandcypher crew leaves Agastia and returns to the royal palace on Ravi Island. Sturm arrives with news that Drang has been taken hostage by the Istavion Troop from Oarlyegrande, a different skydom. Orchid and Sturm decide to join the Grandcypher crew in a rescue effort.
- They arrive at the Silverwind Stretch, where they believe the troop's secret base is located. They're attacked by a primal beast named Dykotomus, who winds up splitting up the group in an avalanche. The division leaves Orchid with Io, Eugen, and Rosetta. Orchid pushes herself too hard, using Lloyd to protect everyone from monsters. They're found by the Istavion troop, who they surrender themselves to. Also as an opportunity to give Orchid a chance to rest. They're brought to the Istavion fortress and join Drang in his prison cell. Despite the circumstances, they believe the others will come rescue them.
- As expected, the other half of the crew crashes the fortress, accompanied by a Silverwind Stretch resident named Hal. Hal saved the Captain's group and now they're carrying out a request for him (which is to see more of the world outside of his village.)
- Drang picks the lock to allow them to join in on the invasion. The Golden Knight silently allows them to escape. Just before he leaves the cell, the knight has a job proposal for him.
- After escaping the fortress and returning to the Grim Basin, the crew heads for the mountain top. Now that Drang's been saved, they realize there isn't much reason for Sturm, Drang, and Orchid to continue traveling with the others. But they also want to see what's at the mountain top.
- Heading topside, they fight the primal beast Dykotomus to help free it from its pain. The primal passes its power to Lyria and gives the crew another Sky Map piece.
- At the top, they see a glimpse of another skydom: Nalhegrande Skydom. The winds of the Grim Basin suddenly divides the crew in different directions. Nearby, the Astral Loki and the primal beast Fenrir look on.
- While on Nalhegrande, though not seen in a handful of chapters, it's later revealed that Orchid has been with Strum and Drang, working for the Golden Knight.
- The mercenaries, Orchid, and the Golden Knight had previously engaged in a clandestine agreement while on Silverwind Stretch. Which was for the Golden Knight to allow their escape in exchange for a future favor. Ever since coming to Nalhegrande, the trio have followed her order in looking into the Scarlet Knight's whereabouts.
- While Orchid stays with Sturm and Drang, the rest of the Grandcypher crew are eventually reunited in Nalhegrande. They would also be joined by Nalhegrande residents, Cain, Reinhardtzar, and Leona, all three who work for the Idelva army.
- On Bestia Island, Cain then encounters Gilbert, who knocks him and Reinhardtzar off the island with a powerful blast. Orchid and Lloyd save the pair from falling from the island with her threads. She's accompanied by Sturm and Drang. After the rescue, they leave a message for Cain to pass along to the captain: stop Gilbert and the Istavion Kingdom for the Nalhegrande Skydom. If they fail to do so, there will be nothing but destruction for the skies.
After they say their piece, they leave Cain and his company to their own vices. When the captain's crew are informed of their message and safety after being divided at the Grim Basin, Katalina judges that the trio are making their own preparations and gathering information.
- Sturm, Drang, Orchid are later seen by the Golden Knight's side in the dining hall of the royal palace on Reiche Island. The trio indulge in themselves while Golden Knight divulges her plans to Hal. Hal has agreed to come with the Golden Knight in exchange for leaving the people on the Silverwind Stretch unharmed. Golden Knight informs Hal would be the perfect candidate to be the first king of the new Torhid Kingdom as a figurehead. He refuses to go along with the plan and later finds himself in jail with the sovereign Pholia.
- The Golden Knight receives reports on the movements of the Scarlet Knight from Sturm, Drang, and Orchid, for she is suspicious of his commitment to the True King's intentions. When informed of the Grandcypher crew's presence on Reiche Island, she moves to intercept. The agents and Orchid remain behind in the room, praying for the Captain's safety.
- Gilbert comes to Pholia and Hal's prison cell. He blasts Pholia with otherworldly energy, knocking her unconscious. Before he can turn his power on to Hal, Drang appears and saves the boy. Orchid follows up behind Drang, explaining that they wanted to save the prisoners while the captain's crew were outside fighting. But Gilbert had beat them to it. Gilbert blasts his surroundings and uses it as a distraction to flee with Pholia. The trio chases Gilbert down.
- The trio manage to catch up with Gilbert. Orchid tells Sturm and Drang to stay back and intends to fight him using Lloyd. After a fight with Gilbert, Orchid is backed into a corner. He manages to overcome Orchid's onslaught. Sturm and Drang move to protect their friend. The captain's crew show up before the fight concludes in tragedy.
- The entire crew is reunited and fights off Gilbert. Though subdued, he flees with the sovereign using his abnormal strength. The Grandcypher crew sets off after Gilbert to Starke Island for the final battle.
- After landing on Starke Island, the group runs into Monika and Lecia, who are fighting otherworldly beings. They surmise that Gilbert is planning to use a teleportation circle in the palace ruins to enter the Great Wall. Orchid, Sturm, and Drang are among the group that remains behind to deal with the monsters heading for the island as a means to keep the path clear. The rest of the crew head for the ruins and defeat Gilbert.
- While Gilbert is stopped, he manages to drag himself to a teleportation circle to enter the Great Wall. The Great Wall is an ancient relic capable of wreaking divine retribution. Gilbert wants its power to control all skies.
- At the Great Wall, he is met by the True King, the Erune king who claims dominion over all skydoms and leads the Luminary Knights. The True King transforms Gilbert into a living gate that connects to the Otherworld. He intends to activate the Great Wall by using Gilbert as fuel and Hal as a key. The Scarlet Knight, Baragona arrives and reveals the True King sacrificed Torhid's king and queen to the wall in the same manner, which caused the divine retribution five years ago. Baragona fuses with the wall as his final duty to the Torhid royal family.
- Baragona, now fused with the Great Wall, begs the crew to destroy him along with the wall, but the Captain vows to save him instead. The crew defeats Baragona, freeing him from the Great Wall and destroying the gigantic structure in the process. During the escape, the Grandcypher crew's airship plummets to the bottom of the sky battered by the wall's falling debris.
- Orchid, Sturm, and Drang are not seen among the group, though presumably they're aboard a separate airship.
ARC 3: WAYFARING ASTRAL
- During Orchid, Sturm, Drang's absence: The young Queen Orchis of the Erste Kingdom, with Prime Minister Adam beside her, has been in Port Breeze for a few days now. She's come to promote economic relations with Port Breeze in order to help Erste get back on its feet. The Queen takes a walk in the city along with Adam and Sierokarte, where they realize just how prolific the Grandcypher crew has become after saving the Phantagrande Skydom. However, the manner in which these stories have spread, remains a mystery.
- A group of children mistaken the Queen Orchis for the golem girl Orchid. The queen corrects their misunderstanding and tells them that she's more like Orchid's big sister.
- The Queen questions the children's mother about how they're aware of Orchid's story. She's surprised the children refer to her as a golem. The mother explains that they're both famous as the legendary crew in Port Breeze, saying "Orchid, born out of a series of miracles." In a sense, she's become a symbol of peace in Phantagrande. The Queen becomes suspicious on how the people know of their tales. It's true the stories have become widespread, but it's unknown as to who first told their tales.
- Last that the Erste Kingdom knew of Orchid's whereabouts, she had gone missing at the Silverwind Stretch. One day, Sierokarte rushes to Mephorash to tell the Queen that the Holy Erste Empire had taken over Golonzo Island. The so-called Holy Erste Empire claims to have Orchid with them. Although there is some resemblance, it turns out to be a different golem girl.
- Having conquered both Golonzo and Valtz, the Holy Erste Empire arrives in Port Breeze and soon clashes with the allied forces waiting there. Pommern and Orchis are directing the defense effort when they're surrounded by soldiers, but they're saved by the sudden intervention of the Grandcypher crew. After the crew's fall into the Edgelands from Nalhegrande, they were eventually able to ride an eruption that returned them to the Sky Realm.
- A Harvin man named Furias leads the Holy Erste Empire, sending a wave of soldiers equipped with titan suits to attack the crew. When the battle starts to look grim, Drang, Sturm, and Orchid arrive to aid the crew. With their support, they take out the empire's new weaponry. But soon enough, more titan suits replace them. Among the waves is a golem girl with red eyes who announces that she will kill Orchid to become her.
- Drang, Sturm, and Orchid manage to defeat the golem girl single-handedly. Furias exchanges Golonzo's liberty for the golem girl and then orders his troops to evacuate. Orchid learns that the golem girl is made from her trial parts, leading everyone to suspect both the Violet Knight and the True King's involvement with the Holy Erste Empire.
- Prime Minister Adam visits Freesia who remains in the Ravi Island prison to request her assistance in the fight against the Holy Erste Empire. Apollo is also on hand, and when news of the empire's invasion of Ravi is announced, she urges the conflicted prisoner to make a decision.
- Emergency reports of the imperial invasion on Ravi reach the Grandcypher crew. At the time, the Grandcypher is being repaired and won't be finished on time. The crew leaves the ship and Rackam behind to head for Ravi Island to help the Erste Kingdom.
- The destructive force of war reaches Ravi's capital, with Zwei and her titan-suit soldiers confronting Orchis's entourage. Adam, Drang, and Sturm create an opening for Orchis and Orchid toescape, but this is exactly what the golem girl wants. Zwei corners the two unescorted girls and attacks.
- Zwei attacks Orchid and wrests control of Lloyd. The queen Orchis shields the fallen Orchid, and just as Zwei is about to kill them both, the Black Knight and Freesia arrive to save the two girls. Despite Orchis escaping with her life, she suddenly falls unconscious, which draws attention from Zwei, who uses that chance to flee.
- When the crew arrive on Ravi Island, Adam informs them that Queen Orchis is still unconscious. For now, recovering Lloyd--who contains Akasha, the primal beast coveted by the True King--comes first, and the crew makes preparations for Valtz to get Lloyd back from Zwei.
- While a battle rages between two armies in the desert, the captain and company split up inside the Valtz Duchy's Grand Arsenal, with the captain's group looking for Lloyd and Orchid's group (Queen Orchis, Sturm, Drang) staying with Zwei in an underground prison. The Violet Knight makes a surprise visit to finish off Zwei, but an Astral comes to stop him: Loki.
- Loki holds off the Violet Knight so that Orchid's group takes the chance to escape from the prison, taking Zwei with them. He urges Zwei to remember it was Furias who gave her a name and recognized her existence. Elsewhere, the Grandcypher crew runs into Furias, who refuses to surrender Lloyd.
- Furias, or at least the rational psyche that was separated from the real Furias, falls at the hands of the crew and reveals the locations of Lloyd. Zwei arrives just as Furias dies, which sends a shock to her system. Loki takes her by the hand, and they both vanish. With Valtz liberated, the crew sets a course for Nalhegrande to retrieve Lloyd.
- The crew stock up on supplies in the Erste Kingdom before they embark on a mission to recover Lloyd from the Violet Knight. Orchid is unable to join the crew and is needed to stay at the kingdom to recover. Orchis, Orchid, and the Black Knight request that Akasha, who is still inside Lloyd, be destroyed once Lloyd is back in their possession. Finally, Orchis and Orchid ask the captain to see if anything can be done for Zwei. Orchid and Orchis both have a wish to apologize to Zwei and save her. If Zwei is suffering, they want to make sure she isn't alone.