Alonzo, or Cuculus for those not on intimate terms, is a follower found in Martira in Metaphor: ReFantazio, who enables you to learn the art of the Faker archetype.
Before interacting with Alonzo, you need to complete a request. To start this request, the protagonist must have two points in Imagination.
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After that, it’s just a matter of finding the man in Brilehaven and progressing through his ranks, though there are a few more roadblocks requiring points in different Virtues.
While Alonzo’s archetype might not be one of the best in your arsenal, he possesses one of the best Bond abilities in Metaphor: ReFantazio, making your battles much easier.
Character Overview
Race |
Nidia |
---|---|
Personality Traits |
Shrewd |
Deceptive |
|
Sympathetic |
|
Signature Archetype |
Faker |
Party Member |
No |
Alonzo is a nidia and, like other members of the race, has a knack for rhetoric and a charm for smooth-talking.
With his connections and silver tongue, Alonzo gets everything he wants by deceiving others like a true charlatan.
However, behind this manipulative facade lies a generous son who does everything he can to repay his mother’s affection.
Alonzo follows the protagonist’s escapades and even teaches him a bit about the art of persuasion before everything backfires and his world crumbles around him.
Alonzo’s Bond Ranks Explained
A new Bond with Alonzo starts in Martira before heading to Kriegante Castle for the first time. The man gives the protagonist a request, and once completed, he becomes a Follower.
After that, all interactions with Alonzo happen at night in Brilehaven, except for one in the afternoon. He’s possibly the Follower with the most Royal Virtue requirements, so get cracking on those.
Rank One
Location |
Martira |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Faker Archetype – The party can now study the Faker Archetype |
Checks/Requirements |
Imagination (2+) |
Must complete “A Dagger, a Ring, and a Rake” request |
After you arrive in Martira and learn about the location of the Giant Sandworm, you can pass by the Pompous Man to trigger a scene after Grius’ memento is stolen from you.
You’ll need two points in Imagination to start the conversation, and if you have them, you’ll receive the “A Dagger, a Ring, and a Rake” request, which requires a visit to the Abandoned Tomb to retrieve Malveno’s Ring.
Once you give the ring back to the man, he talks to the NPC who stole from us and, with some clever lies, recovers Grius’ Memento.
Cuculus says he can see the protagonist’s potential as a candidate and offers his dubious knowledge and skills. In exchange, he asks for information.
He introduces himself as Alonzo and says that anyone who knows him as Cuculus is actually a target for his art of deception.
Alonzo’s first lesson is that the protagonist should show no mercy to scoundrels and that kindness is a weakness. He says he doesn’t teach the art of deception but how to steal hearts, a nod to Persona 5.
After this first interaction, we begin a new Bond with Alonzo and unlock the master debuffer Faker Archetype.
Rank Two
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Faker Enlightenment – Reduces the MAG cost of studying the Faker Lineage |
Checks/Requirements |
After initiating “Infiltrate the Charadrius” operation |
Wisdom (3+) |
Alonzo will be unavailable until we reach the third city, Brilehaven. You’ll also need three points in Wisdom to continue advancing his rank.
Once you’re free to explore Brilehaven, you can find Alonzo during nighttime. Talk to him and start the second rank.
We share information with Alonzo, such as the royal magic protecting high-ranking candidates from aggression.
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Alonzo says the most efficient way to eliminate the competition would be to investigate their families and homes and use the information to blackmail them, but the protagonist refuses.
Alonzo explains that he’s playing a landowner, acting as his middleman while the man profits from the struggle for the throne. However, he intends to redirect the landowner’s money into his coffers before the mark realizes it.
However, Alonzo’s associate mentions that a servant of the landowner was seen snooping around his hometown, but the nidia doesn’t care, claiming they’ll never discover his origins.
Still, as a precaution, he invites the protagonist to visit his hometown to ensure everything is in order.
Rank Three
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Scion’s Skill – Increases skill inheritance slots for the Faker Lineage to two |
Checks/Requirements |
N/A |
While waiting for his collaborator, Alonzo shares his past. He reveals that he was abandoned as a baby near the village, but a paripus woman adopted him.
His mother, whom he speaks of with great affection, was extremely kind and always wore a smile. Because of this, she was constantly targeted by con artists, who repeatedly took advantage of her.
That’s why Alonzo took up the art of conning—to give back in kind to all those who had deceived his mother. His current mark is the landowner of his village, who left his hometown in its current poor state.
However, instead of the collaborator showing up, the landowner appears, claiming he’s uncovered Alonzo’s true identity. To punish him for his deceptions, he sets Alonzo’s hometown ablaze.
The protagonist and Alonzo rush to the village, and to the grifter’s sorrow, his mother dies in the attack. The other villagers blame him for the disaster.
Alonzo spirals into guilt and regret, saying that by letting his guard down and showing weakness, the landowner took advantage, and his mother paid the price.
Rank Four
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Magic Shop Negotiator – Discounts the prices at Magic Shops in all cities |
Knave’s Loyalty – Increases the monetary reward for completing requests |
|
Checks/Requirements |
Tolerance (3+) |
You need three points in Tolerance to start this rank.
Alonzo is deeply depressed but agrees to speak with the protagonist. He explains that he looked into the landowner and discovered that he, too, is being manipulated by someone else.
Alonzo still blames himself for everything that happened and tries to justify his actions. Since the landowner was abusive with taxes, draining any wealth from the village, he attempted to be heroic and save his people.
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But he failed, and his mother paid dearly for it. Alonzo holds a dagger to his throat, recalling the villagers’ words that he should have been the one to die.
The protagonist reminds him that his mother asked him to live, so he drops the weapon, still lamenting.
Then, Alonzo has an epiphany, pulls himself together, and realizes that while he has no power, he still has the protagonist. He promises to show him some fun tricks next time.
Rank Five
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Scion’s Merit – Increases skill inheritance slots for the Faker Lineage to three |
Checks/Requirements |
N/A |
Alonzo shares that he has a new plan and has been closely analyzing the life of the landowner and his collaborators.
Since the landowner will be present at the next village inspection, Alonzo will try to jump on him and ask for the protagonist’s help.
The conman tells a story about how his mother planted a sapling, which grew into a beautiful orchard that benefited everyone in the village. He uses this analogy to say he’s betting on the protagonist’s future to benefit all.
Alonzo says he’ll use his network to discover which afternoon the inspection will take place and will wait for the protagonist on the day.
Rank Six
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Faker Veneration – Significantly reduces the MAG cost of studying the Faker Lineage |
Checks/Requirements |
N/A |
This is the only interaction with Alonzo that happens during the afternoon. The two ride together in a carriage to surprise the landowner.
Alonzo confronts the man and threatens him with information about his daughter, suggesting she’s been kidnapped. However, he quickly follows up by recounting how the landowner was once an upstanding citizen, loved by all in the village.
Alonzo continues, commenting on how the man is being blackmailed by someone else. The landowner reveals that threats were made against his three daughters.
At this moment, Alonzo proposes a strategy to end this blackmail network once and for all and also to make the landowner atone for his sins. The man agrees.
Alonzo then reveals that he never had the man’s daughter and that it was all a bluff—but one that paid off. He plans to reveal everything to the protagonist in their next meeting.
Rank Seven
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Magic Shop Dealmaker – Allows purchase of rare items at Magic Shops in all cities |
Grifter’s Eye – Unlocks Analyse data for all enemies with certain exceptions |
|
Checks/Requirements |
Courage (5) |
You need maxed-out Courage to start this rank.
Alonzo invites the protagonist to witness his once-in-a-lifetime performance. But before that, he asks to celebrate at the tavern.
However, the man must have spiked the protagonist’s drink because he passes out and wakes up in the town square, not knowing how he got there.
The protagonist awakens to a spectacle of horror. The landowner stands before a crowd with Alonzo tied up, revealing all of the man’s sordid past.
He talks about how Alonzo deceived everyone, sold people into slavery, and engaged in other illicit activities just to line his pockets with coins.
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When the landowner accuses Alonzo of even tricking his own hometown and killing his mother, the crowd begins to condemn the grifter.
The protagonist tries to intervene but is ignored. Alonzo confirms all of the landowner’s accusations and even mocks the audience.
When the protagonist finally approaches them, the landowner congratulates him, claiming the candidate is responsible for capturing Alonzo.
Still acting devilish, Alonzo whispers to the protagonist that he’s betting everything on him, that he must win the throne for the world’s sake.
With that, the landowner judges Alonzo for his crimes and carries out the sentence, slaying him. Heavy stuff, eh.
Rank Eight
Location |
Brilehaven |
---|---|
Perks/Abilities |
Faker Archetype: Elite – The party can now study the Trickster Archetype |
Scion’s Essence – Increases skill inheritance slots for the Faker Lineage to four |
|
Checks/Requirements |
N/A |
The final Rank interaction isn’t with Alonzo but with the landowner, who introduces himself as Daturam. The man explains that Alonzo himself proposed the execution, provided Daturam supports the protagonist’s candidacy.
Alonzo’s goal was for the protagonist to become a hero by capturing the grifter and, consequently, gaining great renown among the people.
Alonzo left a letter for the protagonist that said that throughout his life, he believed he was just, but in truth, he was selfish and loved deceiving others.
To make up for all the wrongs he committed, Alonzo wanted to do a generous act he had always aspired to, and that was to shed some famous light on the protagonist’s great endeavors.
Finally, Alonzo leaves all his wealth to the protagonist, and at Daturam’s suggestion, the candidate decides to donate it to the village, gaining even more supporters.
The “A Rake’s Last Wish” request begins but it isn’t necessary to complete Alonzo’s ranks.
Thus concludes all Bond ranks with Alonzo.
Note: An endgame interaction reveals that Alonzo is still alive. Although the game doesn’t show how it happened, we can reference Junah’s Bond to learn how a nidia’s anatomy works and assume that, thanks to this, he survived.
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