Grust has been liberated. All that remains is Olbern Keep, where General Lang remains barricaded.Lang used his influence to steal belongings, daughters and lives from the people of Grust. Was there ever a man as cruel as he is? "I cannot forgive him. I shall take him down without fail!" Prince Marth raised his sword to the skies and ordered firmly: "Altean knights, charge!!"
To defeat him, you would do well to attack with magic or a special weapon like an armorslayer.
Duly noted.
If you plan to defeat him with strength alone, you'd have to be extremely powerful. Kris, you are, sadly, not very strong. But you could fight using your other talents. Please, in my stead, kill that insolent man.
Ah, the wonders of being a mage. Also, Kris’ hair is back to normal. Man, was that quick.
Our Barracks items. The Laundry Pole is a 1 Might Lance. Weak, but very cheap to forge and help someone build up their Lance Rank.
Base Conversations:
Navarre
Kris, may I have your opinion on something? I’m worried…
About Prince Marth? Or about our next battle?
Both of them. This is just a rumour, but… It seems Lang has hired the swordsman Navarre.
Navarre… I’ve heard that name before. He’s a remarkable swordsman, right?
Yes, but Navarre was our ally in the war so I’m sure he’ll understand if I talk to him.
(flashback)
Or, if you will not, turn it on me now instead…
…Nay, I’ll turn no blade of mine on a woman.
(end flashback)
S-so that’s how you persuaded him…?
Hmm? Yes, why? Kris, if you meet Navarre, let me talk to him… please.
It seems Navarre is back to give us trouble. The game doesn’t tell you this but Ogma can recruit Navarre too, since they are rivals and all.
The top part of the map is closed off from our vision until we open either of two doors. I’ve put black box near our starting position because it spoils the identity of our 2 new recruits that we’ll get near the beginning of the chapter. Rickard will only be present in the bottom right room if we wasn't recruited in the previous chapter though I do not remember if he will still have the VIP card. That might be something you only get for recruiting him in the previous chapter.
This Bishop with Swarm should be noted.
His friend is carrying a Physic to heal enemies from across the map but more importantly, he’s also holding a Secret Book which will give +2 to skill to whoever uses it.
It seems I forgot to take a screenshot of the team I’ll be bringing to this chapter.
But anyway, we begin with some enemy chatter.
Reinforcements are arriving soon; if we can hold out a little longer, we can make a pincer attack. Swordsman Navarre. When they open that door, you make your move. There is no need for restraint; slice them to pieces!
Yeah... Sure. Though the knights of Altea are hardly worthy enemies.
Oh-ho! That's my Navarre. They say not even Ogma of Talys is your equal.
What? Ogma?! N... Naturally... A guy like him is no match for me.
I see. Glad to hear it. Then I'll leave this place in your capable hands, Navarre!
Wait, something’s off about Navarre…
Catria immediately kills the mage in one of the treasure chest rooms.
The rest of the army divides into 2 groups that will take on each side of the map.
6 damage isn’t too bad.
Marth’s eyes lol.
Are they enemy reinforcements? Or allies to our cause...?
I do not know, but... I do hope they are allies.
It’s best to prepare for both though.
We begin working on the left side and Marth gains an impressive level.
Luke gets a critical hit and a level that helps patch up his speed.
I have the worst luck with healers.
And with that, the left side is dealt with.
Over on the right side, Kris takes out the Swarm Bishop. On our next Player Phase, this happens.
Frey! Thank goodness you're safe.
You too, sire. Norne and I escaped from Altea Castle and we rode here as fast as we could.
But the rest of our forces were scattered... I'm sorry we couldn't all make it.
You don't have to apologize, I'm just glad that you're safe. The others can take care of themselves.
Sire. From here on we shall accompany you. Please give us your orders.
Oh, and please be careful! I caught a glimpse of enemy troops approachin' the castle behind us. I expect they'll be enterin' the castle soon.
Enemy reinforcements? I understand. Thank you.
And we get Frey and Norne. Frey as you’ll remember was the cavalier exclusive to Normal mode in Shadow Dragon. Norne too was exclusive to Normal mode but required conditions that I’d didn’t worth it to recruit her. As such, she was one of the many Sidestory characters that we didn’t recruit in Shadow Dragon.
Frey is quite good and serves as a great replacement for the 3 cavaliers that you got in the Prologue if you didn’t train them. It’s unlikely that you didn’t train even a single one of them but Frey can still be added onto your team. His growths are similar to the other cavaliers but he comes with the added benefit of having higher weapon ranks than those 3 would at this point.
Norne is a good archer but you’ve been handed out far too many of those since the Prologue and she doesn’t have any notable advantages of Ryan, Gordin, Warren or Castor for me to seriously recommend her over the others. She is a girl though and the Fire Emblem fandom has a serious collective boner for pretty young female archers of all things.
Reinforcements start arriving just like Norne said they would.
I hate healers.
We’ve opened the doors to the north part and we see Navarre. He’s holding Aquarius, giving him +1 to Magic and Resistance each. What the hell is he going to do with magic and resistance?
Who would have known? Turns out, Lang has Cancer. Of what variety, I don’t know but it’s giving him +2 defence.
Catria 2 gud.
We start to work on the reinforcements.
Ogma goes up to talk to Navarre.
Navarre... You bastard...
Stay away... This evening, my killing edge hungers for blood...
Do you mean to kill me, no matter what? Hmph, very well. I knew that we'd have to settle our score eventually.
Wait... Stay your blade! ...I'm no Navarre, I'm just a sham. I... It's me, Samto. Have you forgotten, Ogma?
Samto?! Samto, the gladiator from Knorda?
Yes, I was a slave gladiator at the time, and you really helped me out. Even when everyone was making their escape, you stayed behind to distract the guards and ended up caught...
......
I heard everything from my friends. How you were dragged out to the square and whipped until you looked like a corpse. How, by chance, the young Princess Talys, tears in her eyes, stood up for you and saved you. And that's why you swore your blade to Talys. Or rather... to the princess...
Enough... Say no more! No more. It's in the past now... No more...
...Ogma... Anyway, I want to repay you! I'm following you from now on, okay?
Thus we find out about Ogma’s backstory. It’s made pretty clear so I don’t have to go into more details and it explains why a sword-for-hire like Ogma has such undying loyalty to Talys, its King and more importantly, Caeda.
Samto on the other hand, is just another sword fighter who gets mistaken for Navarre and starts to use this too his advantage. Though he doesn't lack ability, he still can't compare to Navarre.
If we have Caeda talk to ‘Navarre’ then we get the following scene.
Navarre, please hear me out! Lend your sword to our cause, just once more!
What? Who are you? I'll have no business with women or children... But, there's a first for everything... (Whoa, she's smoking!) What business do you have with me?
...... Y-you're not Navarre! Who are you?
Yikes, I've been exposed, huh? I'm actually a stingy mercenary known as Samto. Somehow, I keep getting mistaken for this famous "Navarre" swordsman guy. I got tired of it after a while, so I decided to pose as him and got myself hired. But I don't like this General Lang guy either. If you're alright with it, I'll lend you my sword.
Yes... You'll do just fine...
Caeda’s a smart girl. She sees through his sham quite quickly.
Anyway, Samto. He’s pretty decent. Honestly, I’ve never used him but his stats and growths are decent enough to work with. But it means I don’t have much to say about him.
The throne room can be tricky to break into since it’s quite well guarded. You’ll always be in the range of at least 2 Knights and sometimes a Bishop with Elfire too. Though it’s only noticeably difficult in harder modes.
Sub-optimal levels.
Ogma equips an Armorslayer and walks to Lang.
I've only done as the Emperor ordered me to. I didn't agree with him, but I had no choice. So...so please, s-spare my life... I'll do anything you say. Yes... Just like this... Mwahaha! You shouldn't have let your guard down! You fool... Now die!
You know, the boss of just 2 chapters ago tried the same trick. It didn’t work.
Lang has dialogue with others too.
General Lang, I have--with my own eyes-- witnessed a number of your crimes. I cannot forgive you. But if you have something to say, I will listen.
S-silence... silence! You damned country-boy prince! You're a fool for coming here! Just die already!
Is that your answer? Then prepare yourself!
And more.
Y-you! You're that impertinent little girl from before...!
Lang! You have oppressed countless people, and insulted my liege. You can only atone for these sins with your life!
W... Why you!
Urgh... Impossible... I have been defeated...
Lang is no more.
Cancer is incredibly contagious.
An Awakening character also makes a short cameo in this game.
We’re clear.
The Pope is back.
Lang accused me of collaborating with the rebels and had me imprisoned. Even though I told him that I must fulfill a mission assigned to me by Archsage Gotoh...
A mission from Lord Gotoh?
That's correct... You have seen the "Starsphere"-- the holy orb with the twelve constellations etched on its surface. In order to pierce Gharnef's shadowy veil, Lord Gotoh created a sacred spell named "Starlight" from that orb.
Then why did he take the Lightsphere from me too in Shadow Dragon? Explain that first. :\
Unfortunately, the strain on the Starsphere was so severe that it shattered into twelve shards, which scattered into the sky. Lord Gotoh told me that this world has long been guarded by five orbs of mysterious arcane power, and that if even one of them is lost, the world will fall into irreparable ruin. By any means possible, we must gather the twelve star shards and restore the Starsphere.
Is... Is this a joke? That the world could just end... This is all very hard to take in. But aren't these the star shards? If so, we already have a few. After we retake Altea, we'd be glad to help you find the remaining shards and orbs.
Of course... Your country was only just invaded by the Empire... I understand, Prince... I too shall fight to restore Altea, then. Thinking about it, my meeting with you is like a sign from Lord Gotoh himself. In that case, I shall surrender myself to fate. But, please, let's stop by the Fane of Raman. We may be able to find some star shards in the ancient temple.
Understood. If it's the Fane of Raman, we can go there on our way to Altea!
The Fane of Raman. It keeps coming back to that place.
General Lang has been defeated. And now the people of Grust no longer have to suffer.
That's right, sire.
Kris, since leaving Altea, we've had a great deal of fights... Looking back at them now... None of our companions were hurt and none of them died. That's what I'm happiest about. Kris, it's because you've been here. Thank you so much.
His comment changes depending on how many characters died.
Sire, some new information has come in from the patrol. Just ahead, the enemy seems to be preparing some kind of ambush. It's not the Archanean Empire, but likely, I fear, mercenaries hired with coin.
Mercenaries, is it...? Do we continue as we are or take a longer, safer route? Personally, I'd rather not detour. We have to return to Altea as soon as possible.
Hmph, if you would allow me to speak as your tactician... I think we ought to stay here and fight. We will be facing mercenaries. The Altean knights would never lose to mere mercenaries.
Kris, your thoughts?
I agree with Sir Jagen.
I see, thank you. Jagen, Kris! The whole army shall move on as they were. We'll hit the mercenaries head-on!
Mercenaries? The next chapter is another sidestory that wasn’t present in Mystery of the Emblem.
Also, This Nest of Evil lines up nicely with the Mercenary Fortress (Severa’s Paralogue) in Awakening. Well, not really but it’s close enough that, accounting for change in landscape after a 1000 years, it may be the same place.
Apr 18, 2024 15:33:54 GMT -8
