Part 3: Unwelcome Change
Chapter 1: Unwelcome Change
Overworld Music: It's not so bad Lissa. Just a healthy little walk!
After every mission, Chrom is sent out on the World Map similar to FE8 Sacred Stone's method of traveling. All but saving the game is locked out for us right now, even basic things like looking at our inventory.
The bottom screen gives us our money status and where we're located. Later it give us a preview of item prices in the current location.
Let's get started.
*The party walks along a dark road*
Music: Agh! Won goph in mah mouph! Blech! Ptooey!
...Ech! And now the bugs are out! Noisy, disgusting bugs that buzz around and crawl all over and bite you when-
Aw, come on now, Lissa. Hardship builds character. Want to help me gather firewood?
Tpht! Tpht! Yeeeeeuck! ...I think I swallowed it...
I'll pass on finding firewood, thanks. I think I've built QUITE enough character for one day!
We should probably think about food. I don't know about you, but I'm starving. 
Yes, I should think a little hunting and gathering is in order. Now, who wants to clear a campsite?*fade to the party eating at a campsite*
...What's wrong, Lissa? Dig in. Pass! ...Gods, couldn't you spear us an animal normal people at for once? I mean, come on! Who eats bear?! You're meddling with the food chain. Right Robin? ...Uh, Robin? *Munch, munch, slurp* *Sigh* I suppose a person would enjoy just about anything after not eating for days... Just eat it, Lissa. Meat is meat. Since when does meat smell like old boots?! Wait, I take that back-boots smell better! Every experience makes us stronger, milady. Even those we don't enjoy. Really? Then why don't I see YOU eating, Frederick?
Me? Oh, well...I'm not hungry. I...I had a large lunch! Yes, quite. Yeah right, Frederick!*Some time later*
Music: Something is very wrong
*Yawn* What's wrong, Big Brother? Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, but...something is amiss... Define "something." I'm not sure...I think I'll have a look around. Not alone, you won't! I'm coming too. Heh. Thanks, Lissa.*cut to Chrom and Lissa patrolling the forest*
Something is wrong here...*Ground suddenly shakes*
Gods, what-Agh! What is this madness?! Lissa, stay close!Music: I mean it, go!
Watch this action-packed cutscene!*Fred and Robin finally awoke from their nap to assist the royals*
Are such horrific creatures commonplace in these lands? They're not from Ylisse, I promise you that. No one is injured, then? Thank the gods....
Thank the masked man who saved me! If it wasn't for him, I'd be... Hey, where did he go? We can worry about him later, AFTER we put these...things...to the blade. Eyes open, now. We know nothing about this enemy. Right.Music: Storm Clouds
Hmm? Are those... Abandoned forts, yes. Then we should take shelter in them whenever possible. No doubt they will offer distinct advantages in battle.
This mission introduces the concept of terrain. Everyone but Lissa is sitting on Woods which gives +1 Def and +10 Avoid. The circled area is a Fort, which gives a massive +2 DEF and +20 Avoid, and healing 20% of your health at the start of every turn. If there's a Fort, occupy it as soon as you can.
The downside to most terrain is that it reduces movement, Woods for example reduce a unit passing through it by 1.
The enemies we're facing are Risen, and judging by the purple smoke and 180 degree neck tricks, they're some sort of undead. The Mercenary in particular is probably the toughest mook to deal with, as he's got excellent speed and has the ability Patience (Gives +10 hit/avoid when attacked).
The leader of this bunch is called a Risen Chief. Unlike the first two bosses, Risen Chiefs will move around the map and hunt your group down from long-range whenever possible. Luckily it's pretty slow for a boss.
First order of business. Fred uses Trade to take Robin's Bronze Sword to save on Silver Lance usage. Fred can also trade away his Silver Lance to Robin, and the Bronze Sword (or any item at top) is automatically equipped.
A useful situation of Trading is when Fred takes out the only Sword enemy with a lance, but is then surrounded by axe wielders. Robin can trade to take his lance, force him to equip his sword, then pair-up to hide.
Fred pairs up with Chrom, then they move down the nearby Fort to attack the Risen.
Between Fred's Support bonus and the Fort's Def boost, Chrom barely felt the counterattack.
Event Tile gives us some WEXP for Chrom. This will get annoying later because character can still get WEXP despite being A rank in all their weapons.
Lissa pairs up with Robin and they camp out on the other Fort.
Robin counterkills the damaged Risen and gains a level.
YOU HAVE MAGIC AS YOUR ASSET, WHY?!
A Mercenary strikes at Robin, but Lissa triggers a really low-percentage Dual Guard. Dual Guard negates all damage, including multiple-hit abilities and even auto-kill moves. The battle gives Robin D rank in Tomes.
The rest of the enemies move up to our team.
*A new character arrives*
...Agh, I knew I shouldn'ta left 'em. 
All right, you ash-faced freaks! Which one of ya wants to try my lance on for size first? I know just the spot for it: shoved right up your-*A second character arrives*
Muh?
Life may be long, but attraction is fleeting! Would you leave me in your sweet dust? 
Leave war to the warriors, dear bird! A beauty such as you need wage only love.
...The hell are you?! Ha! Is the lady intrigued? Of course you are-it's only natural. I am myth and legend! I am he who strides large across history's greatest stage! The man who puts the "arch" in "archer"! My name, dear lady, is Vi- Sorry, Ruffles-no time for this. Onward!
Virion! ...Er, my name. It's Virion. W-wait! Where are you going? Pray, at least tell me your name! I'm Sully. ...And I'm a Shepherd. "Sully"! How divine! A starkly beautiful name, as befits its owner, truly.
Will you marry me, my dearest Sully? Will I what now?Someone. Please. Kill him.
Oh wait, I get it...This is a joke. And when I put my boot through your face-that's the punch line. I realize my manly figure and noble bearing can be overwhelming. 'Tis common! So please, don't feel pressured to answer right a-
OOF! G-goodness, but those shapely legs certainly can kick, can't they...P-please, milady! Allow me to accompany you, at least! Mine is a cold, empty world without you. I shall be your most willing servant, and you, in turn, will give my life purpose... *Sigh* Fine...Anything to shut you up. ...What? Stop staring at me like that!
Okay. As tempting as it is throw Virion away as a decoy and leave him for dead, he has some uses. Virion, as he introduced, is an Archer who specializes in bows. Bows can only attack at 2-range and can't counterattack melee attacks. All bows are considered Effective Weapons against Pegasus Knights, but that doesn't apply here.
Elixir is the best healing item in the game, recovering all HP.
Archers also start with Skill+2.
Sully is our first Cavalier, the base class of Frederick's Great Knight (an Advanced Class). Cavs are solid, mobile units with balanced stats and access to both swords and lances. Sully already comes with over half of her lance rank filled, and her Discipline ability will help reach D quickly.
Robin moves out of the enemies' range and trades to herself a Vulnerary from Lissa.
Chrom takes her spot and knocks out the Mercenary.
No
I, as it happens, am an archer! ...The archest of archers, in fact. As such, I attack most effectively from a distance. So kindly keep me one step away from peril, if you would!
Sorry Sully, but he's sticking with ya. Archers give good bonuses in the important places for camping, so Sully's disadvantage in the triangle won't be that much of a problem.
Chrom and Sully softened up the enemies without much damage to themselves. They both upgraded their Weapon rank to D in the process.
Robin cleans up the upper-left.
Team Sully surprisingly one-rounded the Archer Risen.
That leaves us with 3 Risen left, including the Chief.
Chrom re-occupies the lower fort and gets to level 3.
Uh...well, at least he's speedy.
Finally...wait, defense?
Boss Music: Menace
The Chief hunts down Sully first. Coward!
Chrom starts the final assault off well.
Sully, not so much.
Robin can't get the kill this turn, so she decides to spend it on getting another Event Tile and chugging a Vulnerary.
Win-win.
Wait, what? Why are you attacking Robin, she can counterattack. Sully can't, plus she's lances! I thought I understood you, Fire Emblem AI....
Lissa sneaks in a quick heal for EXP and Sully finishes the map.
Apparently everyone gains strength except Chrom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNvP05aH9y8
...... Um, I never got to thank you...for before. So...thank you. You were very brave. You saved my sister's life. My name is Chrom. Might I ask yours? You may call me Marth.Music: You may call me Marth
Marth? After the heroic king of old? If that's really Marth, you might not want to mention that you shove Falchion into the ground every fight....
You certainly fight like a hero. Where did you learn your way with a sword? I'm not here to talk about me. The world teeters at the brink of a horrible calamity. What you saw tonight was but a prelude. You have been warned.
Not much for conversation, is he? It appears his skills lie elsewhere. I wager we'll hear his name again...But for now I'm more concerned about the capital. We should make haste.Next time: Shepherds
extras
Sully
Starting Class: Cavalier
Weapon Ranks: Swords (E), Lances (E)
Abilities:
-Discipline: Gain 2x Weapon Experience
Base Stats (Growth Rates)
HP-20 (85%) Spd-8 (60%)
Str-7 (55%) Lck-6 (60%)
Mag-1 (20%) Def-7 (45%)
Skill-8 (60%) Res-2 (25%)
Sully is a speedster, and will become one of the faster members of the team. Cavaliers are great units to have for their huge movements and balanced Support bonuses (+2 Str/Def, +1 Skl/Spd). If given care, she'll quickly overtake Frederick in stats besides defense.
Official Bio: A no-nonsense, capable Shepherd with a mouth that would make brigands blush. Ylissean women admire her strength, and call her "The Woman to End All Men." The last one you want cooking.
Virion
Starting Class: Archer
Weapon Ranks: Bows (D)
Abilities:
-Skill+2
Base Stats (Growth Rates)
HP-19 (80%) Spd-5 (60%)
Str-6 (55%) Lck-7 (40%)
Mag-0 (30%) Def-6 (35%)
Skill-9 (70%) Res-1 (30%)
Virion is...awful, compared to the rest of the Shepherds. He starts with bad bases, his growths are really mediocre for the game, and he starts as an Archer which heavily limits how much EXP he can gain per map since he can't counterattack. His Support bonus is decent, but Cavs do it better plus they're not terrible units. He's...accurate at least?
Official Bio: A secretive noble from some land or another. While many would brand him a buffoon or a braggart, his boasts are often well-founded. He is swift to propose to anything female. The most prolonged primper.
Official Bio: The mysterious masked knight who identifies himself as the legendary hero, Marth. He also carries the legendary sword, Falchion, which is supposed to be the one-and-only sword Chrom owns. He suddenly appears from nowhere to save Chrom and the others.