Part 66: Chapter 5A (1)

My one and only Thyodor.

I have... missed you as well.

Oh, but you must be famished! I shall prepare supper at once.

In the meantime, you can work on the music box. Do not forget, you promised you would fix it.

The music box... I remember...

---

Papa! My music box broke. I can't sleep without it!



I can't wait that long! I won't be able to sleep!

There there, Elsie. You musn't nag Papa! You can wait til he comes back.

Well, only if he -promises- to fix it when he comes home.

You have my word. Nevertheless...

He never came back...

---



I knew you'd returned from the sound of your mother's voice. She speaks nary a word when you're away.

I'm afraid that as before, I can stay only briefly.

You've come alone, then? Ancel is not with you?

He is not.



...

Again so soon you leave?

Duty calls.

Godspeed, then. Do remind Ancel to show that homely face of his around here time and again, won't you?

Right.



That I know.

...

---





What are you doing here? Your chapter's over!

I find that rich... Pray tell what assistance a corrupt, back-stabbing villain of your like could possibly expect of me.

Really, dear Margrave, 'tis in poor taste to bandy such insinuating remarks about. A lesser man might take it for candor!

And right would he be. Tales of your foul deeds fill my weary ears, the sordid tales of Sir Cennair's death notwithstanding.



Do hear me out, Lord Roienburg. I will confess to perhaps a few -indiscretions- in the past, but I entreat you today to prevent this war!

You've come about the war?

A mutual interest if ever there were one. Neither your nor I stand to profit should civil war erupt and dissever the kingdom.



Harbor suspicions though you may, the peril of which I speak is irrefutable. If it is to the messenger and not the message to which you object-

...

I offer you Wylfred, birth son of a hallowed einherjar. Serendipity graces his name, and vigor his blade.

Should I take this fork-tongued charlatan at his word, my good man?



He has grit, this one. Wylfred, was it?

I believe I -will- judge for myself. Let us see if you are to be trusted.

I place these two letters in your care, one for each prince. See that they find their recipients and I will judge you worthy.

The deed is to be rendered by daybreak. Do not return if you have not.



---



Aside from buying some Flame Armor and Ether Scepters, I also replenish my stock of Union Plumes and get a Damascus Sword for Mireille - 60 ATK, but three attacks, which lets it slightly edge out the Estoc for now. Wylfred gets the Ruin's Fate.



Alright, let's get some filler done.





A pair of Caelanos means another annoying fight, but it's slightly more manageable if you have Paralyze Checks and Diminish Missile now. There are also Lizard Warriors and a Skeletal Soldier.



The added RDM from the Flame Armor really helps, actually.







I swear these are supposedly useful, but sometimes it's just hard to make room for it when Diminish Missile/First Aid/Fists of Iron are so multipurpose.





Second one goes down.



And that increased RDM just saves Heugoe's life.



Diminish Missile is also fantastic, and when you don't have to worry about Paralysis Harpies become a lot more manageable.



The Skeletal Soldier goes down next.



And Heugoe restores his health. Love it when that happens.



Having Fists of Iron now means that Virtuosity is that much more useful.





For some reason I didn't have a Check on Wylfred, so he got paralyzed here.



Fix that right up.





No! I didn't miss! I never miss!

Do a little chipping...



It'll have to do.





Vali's is just such a sweet skill I'm glad you have it on the A route.





A third copy of Knockout Blow in case you desperately want it, and a Material Earring. If you went to Hroethe Walk, Cheripha is the only user of it.



Right, let's pass on the message to Kristoff.



We can shop in the Crown City, but it's the exact same inventory, so let's move on.



Wait, Roienburg, did you ask Wylfred to traverse a marsh and a snowy mountain to deliver two letters and get back to you in a single day?





Lots of Kobolds here, and plenty of snow. Petrify Checks are helpful but not needed, as the Kobolds are very easy to kill and you might just be better off using Cockatrice Eggs. The leader is a White Dragon, which is unique to this path. As you might expect of a Dragon, it has high health, is strong against Ice and weak to Fire, and its attacks are Ice in nature and can cause Freeze.



The Kobold Knights are so weak that you have to be careful not to kill them too easily. Two characters might be able to get 100 Sin on them, but I use three just to be safe.



The second one also goes down easily.



There are three pairs of Safety Boots available on this route - two can be dropped during Chapter III, and one more is a hidden item during Chapter IV. Ushio can go without a pair. There are Kobolds on both sides leading up to the Dragon, but if you go from the right end the rest will get within range.



The Kobold King is slightly tougher, so I use two characters to leave it with just a little health left.



Then it dies.



Lots of enemies starting to crowd here.





Suspend Motion works on the White Dragon, by the way, so you can use it to take it out of the fight while you mop up the rest of the Kobolds.



The Flame Armor is slightly counterintuitive here, as the wearer takes extra damage from Ice. You can use the Duel Armor instead, but it's not a huge loss if you can't be bothered switching equipment - you just might have to use a few more Union Plumes.





One Kobold Knight goes down...



Then the last Kobold King also goes down. We're at 200% Sin now.



Why...can't...I...move...?



Vali's Awakening, and get ready to rumble.











A fine enough job, I'll say.





The Valiant Helm is nice, and this is the first copy of Crystal Call we finally get on this route (Mischka should get it if he's in your party. Otherwise, Wylfred or Natalia are good alternatives.) The Power Bangle is the real reward and it only needs 100% Sin.





Alright, that's done. Let's get back to Roienburg.

---





I did not doubt you would succeed. You have my consent, rather my bidding, to enter my rank and file.

It is truly an honor... An honor I am unfit to receive.

Humility does not become you, lad.



I love how they keep ragging on Fauxnel like he's not there. I mean I guess he might not be if you sacrifice him before here.

Ancel was made to suffer for his innocence, and my transgression is to blame. What is done cannot be undone.

That they cannot, but ours is a race of vice. The measure of a man is where he turns once his innocence is lost.



You speak from experience?

Weary of petty politics, I withdrew from the capital, and thus my cardinal duty - the young princes' fosterage.

Had I remained to rear them as I should have, they would have learnt to recognize the consequences of their actions.

Now I must atone by preventing my mistake from meaning the end of the kingdom... Even if it means the end of me...



No matter. My letters invoke an armistice, and summon the princes to discuss peace. You are to be my right hand.

I question whether my needs warrant such trust.

The dark clouds that shroud your heart dissipate as we speak. Soon you shall see for yourself.

Perhaps we shall.



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Voting Time - I'm going to end up using one of our two Sorcerers at some point, so just vote on whether it'll be Lockswell or Fauxnel. They'll get a few of our Expert's Experiences to catch up once we reach a fight when I might want to use them.