Octopath Traveler is a vast and powerful game that is packed full with insightful acts of character throughout the plot. As Spring comes into bloom and the prequel well underway, I found it most appropriate to share some influential quotes that can be found in the adventures of this game.
“There is no shame in not knowing an answer, so long as you’re willing to learn.” -Cyrus
A highly enthusiastic scholar and professor, Cyrus believes in the extending of knowledge out of one’s own curiosity. When his student, Therese, struggles to give an answer to one of his questions during his lecture, he quells her anxiety with the quote above. He thoroughly believes that knowledge should be born from our own desire, not another’s expectations.
“I teach my students with the expectation that one day, they will surpass me.” -Cyrus
During his scholarly adventure, Cyrus has encountered intellectuals who would hoard knowledge for themselves. This discourages him due to its contradictory nature to his personal philosophy: knowledge is for all. This he expresses to a scholar with such intentions that have led her to collecting a secret and extensive library in a hidden forest.
“If you don’t have anywhere to go, why don’t you work with me?” -Dominic
Dominic, a proficient book binder, offers a position in his business to Russell, a man with a troubled past. Despite his tarnished actions, Russell is being granted a second chance. Through Dominic’s kindness, he can atone and start anew.
“A happy mutt with not a care in the world. He is a good dog—but to be fair, all dogs are good dogs, and a pox upon he who dares to say otherwise.” -Good Dog
In a high-traffic trading city, there is a dog that spends its days on the beach. To be without worry or cares is an admirable place to be. What a good dog.
“To protect someone is to gaze into the future with eyes unclouded.” -Olberic
Olberic is a well-renowned warrior but is now without a kingdom to serve. On a journey to find himself, he has learned of the man responsible for the assassination of his King and the collapse of his kingdom; this man is Werner. Upon Olberic confronting him, Werner attempts to appeal to him through his own philosophy. Werner asks Olberic what he gets out of his selfless acts for others, in which Olberic responds with the quote above. Olberic ferociously believes in the future that will be created by the lives he has saved.
“Wounds of betrayal run deep, but one must learn to have faith in others again before they can start to heal.” -Heathcote
Therion has lived his life as a lowly thief, looking out for his own well-being. He has refused to trust anyone because of a partnership that went awry in the past. On a thieving mission, Therion is caught by the ever-affluent Heathcote, a prior master thief. Heathcote, seeing a bit of himself in Therion, attempts to apprentice him with some advice with the quote above, in hopes of deterring Therion’s cynical attitude.
“Folk make mistakes sometimes—no point in throwing away a whole friendship over that!” -Alfyn
Alfyn is a naturally positive and forgiving person. His profession as an Apothecary has allowed him to meet and help a wide variety of people. As a man who opts to trust in others, he expresses as much to Therion who prefers to keep his vulnerabilities to himself. Despite Alfyn’s misfortunes in sometimes believing in the wrong people, he knows that whatever poor choices others make are not his responsibility.
“Sharing a connection with someone new—for however brief a time—is unforgettable.” -Graham Crossford
Tressa is a young, go-getter, merchant whose pride is in her trading craft. She’s always got treasure on the mind and finding the right customer to give it to. On a lucky encounter with a trade ship, she gains possession of a mysterious diary filled with the adventures and inner-thoughts of Graham Crossford. In her quest to become a better merchant, she follows the diary to locations all throughout the continent of Orsterra. When she arrives to Quarrycrest, she finds the quote above in Graham Crossford’s entry. Tressa is going to learn the value in meeting new and meaningful people on her travels.
“Children can take you by surprise. We oft forget what they are capable of.” -Olberic
On Ophilia’s mission to deliver the sacred flame to the churches across the continent, she comes upon a child whose parents have recently passed. In this tough time, the child is acting out and Ophilia takes it upon herself to help him through his troubles. In a valiant overcoming through Ophilia’s mentorship, the child learns to soften his heart to his friends and live kindly without fear. In this moment, Olberic reflects upon a child from his hometown that he was mentoring in the way of the sword. He often thinks of that boy fondly, remarking how much he has accomplished under his tutelage.
“Sometimes you can travel the whole world only to find that the thing you sought was lying right outside your front door the entire time!” -Sweet Tooth
A man with an incurable sweet tooth is searching the continent over for an ingredient that will satisfy his craving. He has traveled from his frigid cold hometown, Stillsnow, to the southern desert city, Wellspring, in search of such a delicacy. Thinking his search fruitless, a traveler imparts onto him a beetroot from the very city he comes from that is undeniably sweeter than anything he has tasted before. In this moment, he has learned a lesson which he expresses in the quote above.
“Challenges are what make everything worthwhile.” -Ophilia
Tressa has been watching Ophilia perform her flame-bearing rituals with ease and eloquence and expresses her admiration to perform so well under pressure. Ophilia reassures Tressa that she feels nervous with every ritual Kindling she enacts. But that doesn’t deter her from following through. In fact, it’s the challenge that makes the ritual, and all things, worth doing.
“When I feel helpless, or find myself in trouble… I continue to believe in myself, no matter the situation.” -Primrose
Ophilia is a very gentle and dutiful servant to her cause, the Church of the Sacred Flame. She lives in constant vigilance to her religion, even putting her life in danger to protect it. Primrose is very conflicted by her actions. Primrose can’t relate to Ophilia’s willingness to die for her faith, a faith in something so abstract. In her own experience, Primrose has decided to put her faith in herself in times of struggle. She finds greater comfort in herself than in any other.
“If I can help lessen another’s pain by taking a portion of it upon myself, I am more than happy to do so.” -Ophilia
After visiting the Archbishop of Goldshore city, Ophilia learns that his daughter has been kidnapped by opposers of their religion. She promises to save his daughter, and that he will not have to bear the burden alone. In her unlimited kindness, she wants for the continual service unto others.
“When something about a person resonates deep within you, it’s the most wonderful feeling. Your heart is freed, your mind is opened, and you realize there’s more to the world than you ever knew.” -Primrose
In Primrose’s mission to avenge her father’s death, she finds herself returning to her home town of Noblecourt, a place she thought she’d never see again. On her arrival, she crosses paths with someone she was close with during her childhood, a man named Simeon. Though Primrose has kept her past somewhat private, upon Tressa probing about the nature of Simeon, Primrose divulges an important lesson of deep connection, a kinship, one can have with another. Tressa is unfamiliar of such a bond, prompting the above quote from Primrose to express the valuable experience such a relationship can convey.
“No matter how lofty our aspirations, in the end, we can only do what we are capable of. Better then to make ourselves the best that we can be, than dream in vain of saintliness.” -Olberic
Primrose finds herself at a personal crossroads when she encounters an old friend of her late father. After learning of his actions to upend the corrupt tyranny that has replaced her father, she is struggling to find something admirable and worthy to believe in. She poses the question to Olberic, ‘What does honor mean to you?’ Olberic expresses humbly that it is to use his skills as a warrior to help those in need for that is all he has to offer. He hopes to convey a sense of accomplishment to Primrose even in falling short of a greater aspiration.
“When times get tough, it’s easier for people to lose sight of what’s important. They don’t know what to do, they don’t know who to turn to… But that’s what friends are for. Friends reach out a hand and pull them out of the chaos, and help them remember what really matters.” -Tressa
During Ophilia’s pilgrimage, her sister arrives with devastating news: their father has passed away. Though Ophilia is grief-stricken, her sister takes a dark refuge in her heart and manipulates Ophilia’s trust in the hopes to get their father back. Ophilia’s sister steals the ceremonious flame of their religion from her to give to a deceptive man who claims he can bring their father back to life with it. Ophilia feels lost in the betrayal of her sister and in her sister putting faith in such an evil man. Ophilia has abandoned all faith in her sister. In Ophilia’s moment of doubt, Tressa reminds her what it means to be a friend. When someone loses their way, their friends should be there to help them back onto the right path and not confine them to the one they’ve fallen to.
“But it is because we know that our time is limited that we know to enjoy each day that we have… Time softens the sharp edges of grief. And those you have lost live on in your heart, so long as you do not forget them.” -Archbishop Josef
In Ophilia’s attempts to save her sister from the grief of their father’s recent passing, she reflects upon a lesson he shared with them when they were both little girls. Ophilia and her sister found a small bird that had died and begged their father to bring it back to life. He softly speaks to the crying girls about the nature of life and how once something has left this world, it can no longer return. He tells them that though death is sad, in exchange the Gods have gifted them with the joys of life. It is because things end that we can enjoy them more fully when they’re around.
