| Record
of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic
Knight Vol-3 (1998)
Released by: Central
Park Media
Episodes: 14 - 20
By Keith
"JC" Hayward
Introduction
I’ve just left Tom Bombadil’s
house and have finally gotten to Bree for a couple pints of
ale at The Prancing Pony, and boy am I tired. Just getting
out of the Shire alone has taken up half the book already!
To be honest I’m not enjoying my visit to Middle Earth
via the primitive mode known as “book reading.”
The movies have gone down in my heart as the greatest films
of all time, while this first book on the other hand is going
down as one of the most over-written novels of all time. I’ve
never read about so many meals, naps, and about every single
last minor twist and turn the characters take in whole book
series as I have in the first half of this book. If they’re
turning right, Tolkein makes sure you know it! But, I know…
it is the fantasy saga that beget all fantasy sagas. I wouldn’t
have an R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman,
or even the Record of Lodoss War if a certain madman, with
an overactive imagination and a love for languages, didn’t
put together an entire mythical realm, history and all, and
send four halfings on a quest to save the world. So, I’ll
stick it out. I hear from all who’ve ventured across
Middle Earth that at first the book is slow going, but well
worth the wait and once the plot actually does pick up you’ll
be happy you made the trip. It is said that you don’t
truly know where you going until you know where you have been,
so I thought it a good idea to kick it with the O.G.’s
of fantasy if I was going to be doing a review for the entire
Lodoss War TV Series for a bit of perspective.
Spark and his intrepid companions are going
to need all the help they can get to stop the forces of Marmo
from overrunning all of Lodoss, so let’s hesitate no
longer on the next leg of our quest. Things go from bad to
worse for our heroes, as we find the Black Knight Ashram…is
back! O_O
Story
Can Spark and his comrades rescue Neese from
her tragic destiny? The dark sorceror Wagnard seeks to sacrifice
her life to resurrect a slumbering goddess. With her power,
he will obliterate the world… and ascend to his reign
as the Lord of the Dead! - Back of the DVD
Review
The DVD opens up with the heroes of Team
Spark thwarting an attempt by the dark wizard Wagnard to steal
Little Neese away from her very bedroom. Knowing that they’ll
not be safe in any one place, Spark and his adventures keep
on the move as they figure out the only place the enemy can
take that which they’re hunting down, the Crystal of
Destiny, is the Holy Kingdom of Valis, where a much under
used character from the original OVA is now king. That’s
right the quiet cleric Etoh is now king of Lodoss’ mightiest
kingdom of light and I can’t think of anyone more fitting
or deserving of the role.
Hot on the trail of the Marmo spies that are
more than likely seeking passage through Valis’s port
to get back to the dark isle, the heroes must first drop off
a message from King Kashue of Flaim to Etoh, where they’re
shocked to hear that Kashue has requested Spark and his friends
return to Flaim immediately if they had not found the Crystal
of Destiny. Spark is torn between continuing on his quest
and following orders but in the end knows that he must keep
moving forward if he’s to do what is truly right, and
that’s to get to Marmo and stop Wagnard directly after
finding out that the Crystal is only one of three items the
wizard needs to bring to life his fallen Goddess of Destruction.
One of those other things happens to be in Valis, the Staff
of Life, and the other in none other than the quiet little
girl cleric he’s been after this entire time, Little
Neese. Wagnard’s power knows no distance or bounds and
the heroes know that running away from him will not protect
her anymore and the only way to stop him is to take the fight
directly to him.
Meanwhile the Free Knight Parn, Deedlit and
their army of freedom fighters are out on the front line,
in the land known as Kanon, which is the direct route that
the forces of Marmo must take if they want in to the island
of Lodoss. It is there that he teams up with the rightful
king of the land to take back Kanon and it's also there that
he finds out that his most dangerous foe, the Dark Knight
Ashram has cheated death itself and is once again on the move
to conquer and unite all of Lodoss under his black iron fist.
At this point is where we get to see the first appearance
of a certain sexy favorite character that we all know well
from the OVA, the dark elven priestess known as Pirotess,
lover and unwavering servant of Ashram. The fight between
Parn and Ashram is pretty well done and more choreographed
than pretty much anything you were able to see in the OVA.
In the end it will come as no surprise to Ashram fans that
his membership to the coolest anime character club is far
from having expired.
A lot happens in this volume. Spark find his
affections are growing for the girl he’s sworn to protect,
Little Neese; he meets back up with his long time hero, Parn,
as his quest to take Wagnard head-on brings him to Kanon;
Ashram reappears, Wagnard reveals his plans, and we even see
that the circlet of Karla has found a new host in a nameless
woman leaving me to wonder what has happened to the previous
host, the thief and former companion of Parn, known as Woodchuck.
While he’s never been an overly important character
I do hope they delve somewhat into why Karla had to seek out
a new body and what has become of Woodchuck.
The last episode ends on a cliffhange with
the good guys on the ropes and in the depths of despair as
all their efforts to keep the worst from happening end up
being for naught and into the night the bad guy laughs with
final victory is within his grasp.
Episode List:
Episode 14: Doorway… The Truth Proclaimed
Episode 15: An Old Enemy… Reunion with the Black Knight
Episode 16: The Holy City… Pursuing A Clue
Episode 17: Decision… An Option Compelled
Episode 18: Mission… The Path One Follows
Episode 19: Reunion… In a Distant War-torn Land
Episode 20: Counterattack… The Stolen Last Hope
Conclusion
I’m not sure if the animation’s
gotten better or I’m just used to it now, but as of
this volume I’d say I’ve no qualms with it. It’s
still on the lower end as production values go, but they do
damn fine with what they do have and that’s good enough
for me. One more volume to go before Spark, Parn and I make
our final confrontation with Ashram and the evil wizard Wagnard
and I can’t wait to see it. See you there brave travelers.
Keith
"JC" Hayward |
