Genso Suikoden IV: 3 (幻想水滸伝IV ⟨下⟩, Gensō Suikoden IV Shita) is a book published by MediaWorks in 2005.
It is the third part of a three-part light novelization of the events of Suikoden IV. It covers the events of the game from confronting the Fog Ship Guide and journeying to Nay Island to the end of the game with the fall of El-Eal Fortress.
This was the first work to refer to the hero of Suikoden IV as Razro (alt. Razlo, or Lazlo), a name that would be used in many subsequent publications and the fandom at large for the character.
Summary
Before Lazlo and his companions, who have just founded the Allied Forces, appears a mysterious ship shrouded in fog. Onboard is a boy who bears another True Rune - the Soul Eater. With this boy joining their ranks, Lazlo and his allies forge an alliance with Nay Island and set out to reclaim Razril, which has fallen under Kooluk occupation.
Exiled under false charges, only after a long and winding journey has Lazlo finally returned to the home he once lost. But what awaits him there…? Can the curse of the Rune of Punishment be broken? What is the true nature of the devastating Giant Rune Cannon that destroyed Iluya? And what is the hidden aim of the Cray Trading Company?
At last, the many mysteries are revealed in the moving finale of the Suikoden IV novelization series!
Content list
| Page # | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Chapters | ||
| 11 | Chapter 21 | |
| On the Fog Ship, Lazlo and Ted reject the Guide's overtures. Leknaat banishes the Guide. On Nay Island, the chief agrees to cooperate. On their way to the Nay-Kobold, Lazlo's Golden Seal is stolen by Nalkul and Champo. | ||
| 35 | Chapter 22 | |
| Lazlo and Chiepoo attempt to recover the seal but Viki's sudden appearance causes it to be lost in a riverbed. With Deborah's help, Rene is found and uses her dowsing rods to locate the item. Izak meets Bartholomew, persuading him to fight for revenge against the Kooluk. | ||
| 67 | Chapter 23 | |
| Manu and Katarina clash over Jeane's attire. Tanya forced her way aboard ship and shares details of the Man-Hunting Incident. The Allied Forces retake Razril and Helmut surrenders, joining the force. | ||
| 93 | Chapter 24 | |
| Lord Vingerhut attempts to reassert control over Razril but is driven away. Frederica shares more details about Graham Cray and his dark past. Snowe, now turned to piracy, attempts to attack the group but is easily defeated. He once again refuses Lazlo's aid and is set adrift. | ||
| 127 | Chapter 25 | |
| Helmut reveals the Island Nations Rune Cannons are too outdated to seriously threaten Kooluk. To rectify this, the Allied Force attempt to recruit Warlock, inventor of the Rune Cannon. Upon returning, Lazlo learns that Ramada has left on a mission to El-Eal Fortress. | ||
| 152 | Chapter 26 | |
| Warlock upgrades the Allied Forces' Rune Cannons. Elenor Silverberg explains Graham Cray's past and her history with him. The Allied Forces retake Obel and capture Colton. A suicide fleet is set ablaze to attack the allied ships but are destroyed by the Rune of Punishment. | ||
| 188 | Chapter 27 | |
| Lalzo recovers from the exertion of using the rune. Helmet and Colton debate their respective choices. Ramada's bird returns with plans of El-Eal Fortress but no sign of the man himself. Snowe is found adrift on a log at sea, abandoned by his pirate allies, and finally accepts Lazlo's friendship. Kika shares her history with Brandeau with Lazlo. | ||
| 218 | Chapter 28 | |
| As the final battle approaches, Katarina, Dario, Lino, and Snowe talk and confide with Lazlo. Elenor prepares her tactics for the battle ahead. Cray solidifies his control over El-Eal, much to Troy's horror. | ||
| 259 | Chapter 29 | |
| Lino and Agnes lead the Allied Forces in the naval battle. Elenor's party confront Graham Cray in the Giant Rune Cannon's control room. Meanwhile, Lazlo's party battle the Giant Tree that powers the weapon. Troy has his forces surrender, then fights Lazlo in one final duel. | ||
| 298 | Chapter 30 | |
| Cray and Elenor have their final conversation. Lazlo is forced to use the Rune of Punishment to protect his friends from the Giant Tree's final attack. Seemingly dead, but not turned to dust, he is laid to rest in a small boat and set adrift with Lilin guiding the boat. The Allied Forces prepare to disperse. Lilin suddenly appears in Obel, shouting that Lazlo is alive. The great ship moves to pick him up. | ||
| 320 | Afterword あとがき, Atogaki | |
| An afterword from Genso Suikoden IV novelization author Takase Mie. | ||
Differences from the game
- Viki inadvertently causes Champo to drop the Golden Seal and Rene is needed to find it. In the game, Champo drops the seal through a window and the player must play a rat-catching minigame to recover it.
- Bartholomew killed Kooluk soldiers on Iluya Island in revenge for its destruction. In-game, the reason behind his killing of Kooluk soldiers is unexplored.
- Manu's crush on Jeane and Katarina's attempts to enforce clothing discipline, much to his ire, are unique to this novelization.
- Warlock needs to be recruited to bring the Allied Forces' Rune Cannons up-to-date. In game, no such difference in technology is mentioned and Warlock is an optional recruit.
- Gunter helps the party get past Warlock's puzzle. In the game there is a different, non-dice based puzzle.
- The Land Dragon found in the underground tunnel is revealed to be Warlock's pet, also called Little Daisy. It is just a normal boss monster, never reference outside its battle, in the game itself.
- As they plan for the final battle, Warlock explains the nature of the Giant Tree. This is a subject untouched upon in the game itself with most information coming from supplementary material.
- Elenor has Gareth and Oleg created a Lazlo statue with a light simulating the Rune of Punishment to push El-Eal into firing the Giant Rune Cannon. In the game, Elenor uses a decoy fleet in the fog for the same result.
- As Troy resigns himself to his fate in the ocean, Lilon dives in to spend one final moment with him.
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