The Zeal Archives - podcast cover

The Zeal Archives

The Nickscasthttps
Have you ever wondered how long King Guardia has reigned for? Or wanted to know more about Lucca's (and her family's) crazy inventions? The Zeal Archives explores the world of Chrono Trigger one bit at a time covering the characters, items, mechanics, locales and lore with a dose of your hosts', T and G, personal experiences with the game mixed in. Each episode contains a healthy potion of the above and is bookended by short vignettes of two characters, T and G, who are trapped in the world of Chrono Trigger (specifically, the "End of Time") and their escapades discovering the world and trying to make their way back home! Put another way, the podcast is part storytelling, part discussion, and 100% love letter to an amazing classic JRPG. Episodes release in 'books' (9-12 episodes) ... whenever they're ready. Each episode is somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes. Have a topic you'd like to see or an idea for the future of the series? Contact us on [Twitter](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) or [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), both @thenickscast
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Episodes

Curios and Trinkets: The Small Things [Book 3, Appendix A]

No Chrono Trigger? No, we’re back in the past, before the initial experiment! T has been putting in some late nights, but to what end? (a portal machine, we covered that) And do we know who has been stealing parts from the office? It’s all coming together, as is their lovely Final Fantasy 6 audio drama! T and G discuss… well, honestly, a lot of our favourite moments big and (mostly) small from the game, including dredging up past unsolved mysteries (and alluding to future ones)! Also, they talk ...

Dec 24, 202139 minSeason 3Ep. 9

Dalton: The Seat of Power [Book 3, Chapter 9]

After restoring most of the Chrono Trigger timeline, our intrepid heroes unfortunately stumble into the path of … Dalton? And Azala?? Thrown into a prison cell on the Blackbird with neither tools nor weapons, how will the party escape and stop whatever nefarious scheme is afoot? Will T and G ever get to go home? There’s only one way out of this sticky situation: a stealth mission. In our world, T and G dig into the enigma that is the “seat” of power himself (in that he’s a big ass), Dalton! What...

Dec 15, 202140 minSeason 3Ep. 9

Fire and Ice: A Surprising Duo [Book 3, Chapter 8]

Our heroes-to-be reach a pivotal moment in the world of Chrono Trigger as familiar face and friend Marle has a chance encounter with Nick G just before the Millennial Fair. But could that moment cause a ripple in space time that causes the Robo and Lucca we know to cease to be? There’s only one day of fairground fun to try to turn things around! In our world, T and G dig into the key characters of this episode: the tomboy princess, Marle, and the genius inventor, Lucca! What do they talk about? ...

Oct 31, 202139 minSeason 3Ep. 8

Elements of Magic: Mechanics and Minutiae [Book 3, Chapter 7]

The mystery of the rapidly expanding anomalies will have to wait because the party finds itself face-to-face with… the end of time? Well known to our Chrono Trigger companions, the presence of old friends is a bit unusual to say the least. Perhaps, like a certain egg, it presents a certain opportunity? In our world, T and G try to talk about a key component of the world of Chrono Trigger: magic! Unfortunately, they get a bit distracted talking about… The origin and nature of magic in the world o...

Sep 04, 202141 minSeason 3Ep. 7

Geno Dome: A Desperate Future [Book 3, Chapter 6]

With their time travel device damaged and losing power, the party must try to find a way to keep it working long enough to fix the anomalies and get the Nicks home. But where in the world of Chrono Trigger would there be enough power for something like time travel? Perhaps a visit to a certain AI would do the trick? In our world, T and G try to understand more about this understated section of the game, and maybe what could have been improved on. In particular... What is going on in this sideque...

Aug 01, 202140 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Mystic Knights: Swordsman, Sorcerer, Sycophant [Book 3, Chapter 5]

This is it, the end of our intrepid crew… just kidding! Trapped in a cage of worlds new and old, our heroes must devise a cunning escape plan that will require everything that they know about the world of Chrono Trigger… probably! At the very least they might need to call in help from some unexpected friends… In our world, T and G attempt to unveil the storied past of the trio of misfits Ozzie, Flea, and Slash… if they had one?! In particular: What we actually know about these characters (surpri...

Jul 07, 202140 minSeason 3Ep. 5

Mystic War: A Brief History [Book 3, Chapter 4]

You’d think in a world of time travel, monsters, and magic, there’d be cause for excitement, but the grind of going from anomaly to anomaly has taken its toll on Nick T… that is until the party’s next destination is Magus’ castle! What dangerous horrors await within, and is its powerful master home? Hopefully not… In our world, T and G delve into the real-life Chrono Trigger trigger archives, [the Chrono Compendium](https://www.chronocompendium.com/), to try to understand more about the Mystics ...

Jun 01, 202135 minSeason 3Ep. 4

The Green Dream: Ripples Through Time [Book 3, Chapter 3]

The party has tracked down the latest anomaly, but what happens when they are pinned down in a sandstorm in the middle of the middle ages? And can a small act of kindness bloom in the desert of a multi-millennial feud? T, G, Robo, and Lucca will have to depend on new allies to face off against old foes… or will they? In our world, T and G revisit one of the most eclectic, inspiring, challenging, and surprising sections of the game: the Sunken Desert / Fiona’s sidequest. There’s certainly a lot t...

May 01, 202136 minSeason 3Ep. 3

Secrets of Zeal: Behind Closed Doors [Book 3, Chapter 2]

Their dreams have finally come true--sort of--T and G are on their way to Zeal, kingdom of magic! Ready to shake off the dreck of the bleak future (and their experiences in the distant past), the party sets out to correct the latest time anomaly… until uninvited guests arrive, anyway. So much for a little rest and relaxation! In our world, T and G have similar dreams coming true as we finally have the chance to talk about the coolest place in all of video game history (probably): Zeal… but only ...

Apr 01, 202138 minSeason 3Ep. 2

Tyranno Lair: History Repeating [Book 3, Chapter 1]

It’s out of the frying pan and into the fire as our heroes, T, G, Lucca, and Robo frantically flee from an unexpected pack of… dinosaurs?! Fortunately, they’re able to make it back to the End of Time to regroup, but so many mysteries remain about what damage the experiment has caused for the world (the multiverse) of Chrono Trigger. It looks like it’s time for a new adventure to begin! In our world, T and G revisit Chrono Trigger’s 65,000,00 BC period, specifically, Tyranno Lair, to get a better...

Mar 01, 202139 minSeason 3Ep. 1

Principles of Time: Complications of Temporal Locomotion [Book 2, Appendix A]

And that night, huddled around a campfire in an unknown future, four friends sat and told the tail (sorry, _tale_) of how the latest chapter of an epic fight for survival had finally come to a close. Though much was uncertain, for now, they cloud rest easy now that the universe was safe, and the problems of the world of Chrono Trigger could be left for another day. ...Or could they? T and G discuss: * Time Travel! It’s… complicated? Like, really complicated. We try to wrap our heads around how i...

Jul 23, 202035 minSeason 2Ep. 9

Palace of the Sun: The Power of Radiance [Book 2, Chapter 9]

With world-ending calamity nearly at bay, a critical decision need be made, one that could alter the course of history. Lucca’s mastery of science means that the temporal distortion can be stopped, and save the world of Chrono Trigger, but G must decide whether it is more important to make his way home… or risk it all to save his friend. T and G discuss: * The surprisingly relevant (but entirely understated?!) origins of the sun stone; how you can find it in the story, what it means for the worl...

Jul 09, 202031 minSeason 2Ep. 9

R66Y: Postmodern Prometheus [Book 2, Chapter 8]

With T faded away into the distortion, G is left with only his grief… and the explanation for the mysterious voices, Lucca! With their misdeeds spelled out before them, and the loss of friends Robo and T, can G soldier on to try to own up to the mistakes that have been made, save the world of Chrono Trigger, and find his way home? T and G discuss: * Robo’s role in the story of Chrono Trigger, the etymology of his name, and his ORIGIN STORY! * The mechanics of Robo, and the game. Did you know tha...

Jun 25, 202027 minSeason 2Ep. 8

Death Peak: At the End of the World [Book 2, Chapter 7]

The world of Chrono Trigger is beginning to fall apart. Robo’s sacrifice brought our heroes one step closer to potential salvation, but hopes are dashed when the distortion begins to impact T as well. Will G and T be torn worlds apart, or... something worse? Is there any hope left in a ruined future? And what is that mysteriously ghostly voice?! T and G discuss: * What exactly Death Peak is: How you get there, why you might want to check it out, how FRUSTRATING it can be, and it’s role in the st...

Jun 11, 202028 minSeason 2Ep. 7

Dreamstone: Heirloom of Zeal [Book 2, Chapter 6]

Finally, our heroes arrive at the Keeper’s Dome, but the distortion has worsened, and the party suffers a few more than mechanical failures… But with the sealed gate open, perhaps answers lie within? Or perhaps the trauma of being trapped in a world before later on has finally gotten to them... T and G discuss: * The role that dreamstone plays in the world of Chrono Trigger: is it _the_ source of magic? A source? A part of Lavos? Is it… the Frozen Flame?! * How Dreamstone fits into the storytell...

May 28, 202035 minSeason 2Ep. 6

Ioka and Laruba: The Tribes of 65 Million B.C. [Book 2, Chapter 5]

It’s a hop, skip, and a jump from the Proto Dome to the Keeper’s Dome… if you don’t mind the Sewers, that is. As they make their journey to hopefully discover Balthazar’s lab, the trio encounters a bit of dimensional interference, and the recurrence of a strange voice. Is all well in the world of Chrono Trigger, or is everything starting to unravel? T and G discuss: * The different tribes of 65 000 000 BC! At least two different mysterious groups of humans, and the dinomen… er, Reptites? * Speak...

May 14, 202027 minSeason 2Ep. 5

The Masamune: The Relic that Ended an Era [Book 2, Chapter 4]

To say that their stay at the end of time, or even 2300 AD, has been strange would be a bit of an understatement… After finding a safe way to traverse the wastes of the future, G and T’s tempers begin to flare. But before things can get too heated, an enemy appears! Will they be able to leverage their knowledge of the world of Chrono Trigger and defeat it? And what is with that strange noise?! T and G discuss: * The history of that most famous sword! No, the other sword… NO the one in Chrono Tri...

Apr 30, 202025 minSeason 2Ep. 4

Zombor: Dark Sorcery on Zenan Bridge [Book 2, Chapter 3]

R66-Y, that is his name… but could he be malfunctioning? If nothing else, their new robot pal is acting very suspicious! T and G have a moral dilemma as to whether they should trust Robo, or journey the wastes of the future alone. Really, what choice do they have if they hope to escape the world of Chrono Trigger? T and G discuss: * The 25+ year old conspiracy that has been brewing in this Super Nintendo gem: how on earth did the Mystics / Fiends manage to secure Zenan Bridge in the first place?...

Apr 16, 202026 minSeason 2Ep. 3

The Gurus of Antiquity: Life and Death [Book 2, Chapter 2]

Could it be… Robo? T desperately scrambles to repair what may be their future hope as G delves into the Zeal Archives to leverage future knowledge of… well, the future! Could Belthasar still reside in the ruins, and the Epoch as well? Could the spatial anomaly be a way out of the world of Chrono Trigger? T and G discuss: * Melchior as a metaphor for world building! How NPCs can help to flesh out the world and add details to the story, even foreshadow, even when they don’t seem important. * The c...

Apr 02, 202029 minSeason 2Ep. 2

Heckran Cave: Where the Beast Sleeps [Book 2, Chapter 1]

Their fate is revealed: Gravely disappointed, T and G have _not_ made it home, but instead have opened a portal to the year 2300 AD. Will the Zeal Archives be enough, at this point, to get them closer to their final destination? Will they _ever_ escape the world of Chrono Trigger? And could this machination whirring to life in the dark spell fortune… or doom?! T and G discuss: * Heckran Cave! What is the point of it, and what should you know if you find yourself wandering through it? Perhaps the...

Mar 19, 202028 minSeason 2Ep. 1

A Premonition: In The Beginning... [Book 1, Appendix A]

The fabric of time has been disrupted, and the fate of T and G is uncertain. Gaspar consults the many records of the Zeal Archives to determine how the journey began, both for our characters, and for the world of Chrono Trigger! T and G discuss: * The development of Chrono Trigger from it’s convoluted origins as a Final Fantasy game back in 1992 with the “dream team” Hironobu Sakaguchi (producer / creator of _Final Fantasy_), Akira Toriyama (character designer for _Dragon Quest_, creator of _Dra...

Dec 29, 201948 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Spekkio: Master of War, Mirror of the Self [Book 1, Chapter 9]

With a plan in motion, all that’s left are a few final preparations before the gate machine is activated and the journey will have reached its end. Before their hopeful return to their universe, T tries one last time to consult with a master of war (and magic), Spekkio. T and G discuss: * Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo’s first arrival at the end of time (after violating the Conservation of Time theorem), time’s point of least resistance, and meeting that Master of War, Spekkio! * Trivia about Spe...

Jun 09, 201921 minSeason 1Ep. 9

The R-Series: Human Extermination Squad [Book 1, Chapter 8]

After a near fatal encounter activating the gate mechanism (and almost summoning Lavos, potentially), the T and G are out of ideas, Trapped in another world with no way out, the Nicks have a heart to heart and look towards the future: literally. Perhaps the R-Series of robots is a good place to start? T and G discuss: * What the factory is like when you encounter the R-Series, and what we know of them as a set of robots. * How to defeat six bosses with only two party members? Yikes. Chrono Trigg...

Jun 08, 201920 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Johnny: The Man, The Machine [Book 1, Chapter 7]

Another experiment put on hold, T’s frustration begins to show. With no foundation in any science, theoretical or otherwise, and no other options on the table, G suggests leveraging the temporal instability and the gate’s whipping in space-time to their advantage. With no other options, the two get to work, inspired by Chrono Trigger’s fast-movin’ fast talkin’ big bro, Johnny. T and G discuss: * When you encounter Johnny in the world of Chrono Trigger, and little bit about how things have change...

Jun 08, 201920 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Dragon Tank: Care & (Dis)assembly [Book 1, Chapter 6]

As the Nicks ascertain their mortality (alive), good luck finally goes their way after managing to stabilize a gate, albeit a small one. Of its own accord, their slapdash machine summons… the instruction manual for the Dragon Tank? T and G discuss: * What is going on in the world of Chrono Trigger when you face off against the Dragon tank? * How to beat the Dragon tank (and other mechanics of it). Protip: Start with the head. * Rampant speculation about the construction of the Dragon Tank, in pa...

Jun 08, 201921 minSeason 1Ep. 6

The Gate Key: A Preamble on Time-Space Gates [Book 1, Chapter 5]

With no other leads, G rests on the hard floor at the end of time and has a familiar dream of the beginning of a different journey. That dream is cut short with an announcement: amidst Gaspar’s books lies a volume about the Gate Key, the Gates, and possibly a clue to get the two of them home! T and G discuss: * What exactly are the gates, and how do they work? Did you know that they are ‘locked’ to the same point in space at different times? We didn’t! * Rampant speculation as to why the gates e...

Jun 08, 201927 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Yakra: 13 Generations of Vengeance [Book 1, Chapter 4]

The discovery of a Guardian hairpin leads to new possibilities with the mostly inert (and seemingly multiplying) time gates. After some experiments, the trail goes cold again and the Nicks trace back to where the pin was found in the first place: a record of the villian from the middle ages, Yakra! T and G discuss: * The nature of Yakra. Is he (she? they? it?) a fiend? A shapeshifter like Flea and Spekkio? Or something more sinister… like some spawn of Lavos?! * Tips to beat Yakra quickly (or at...

Jun 08, 201922 minSeason 1Ep. 4

The Lineage of Guardia: A Family Spanning the Ages [Book 1, Chapter 3]

With renewed energy and a plan to open a gate home, the two are on a hunt for knowledge as they pore through volume after volume in search of any hint as to how. Gaspar’s organizational system is less than chronological, and the two end up learning of his plans for world domination… and of the lasting legacy of another royal family, the Guardias. T and G discuss: * The long (and storied) lineage of the Guardias, from 65 000 000 B.C. to 2300 A.D., including a brief tangent about the lore of Chron...

Jun 08, 201929 minSeason 1Ep. 3

The Ashtear Line: Guardia’s Treasured Inventors [Book 1, Chapter 2]

After being transported to Chrono Trigger’s “end of time”, the Nicks have a new challenge to overcome: the self-destruction of their experimental device! Perhaps Gaspar’s repository has some clues to aid them? Or perhaps someone in that family of geniuses, the Ashtears! T and G discuss: * The short (and questionable) lineage of the Ashtear family, including what is known of Banta (ancestor), Taban (father), Lara (mother) and, of course, a bit about Lucca (daughter / genius / protagonist with sci...

Jun 08, 201927 minSeason 1Ep. 2

The Millenial Fair: The Journey Begins [Book 1, Chapter 1]

A mysterious experiment goes awry landing T and G in a bizarre repository of knowledge in an otherwise desolate void. The two find the space familiar, despite a strange geometry to it, and with a certain nostalgic allure. Fortunately, a particular tome is on hand to help describe how it all began… at the Millenial Fair! T and G discuss: * The fun and games that can be found at the fair, and why the fair is relevant in Guardia’s history. * Tips to save time while visiting the Millenial Fair for t...

Jun 08, 201923 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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