Fire Emblem: Binding Blade Part #6 - Ensnared or, Ride of the Woltkyries

Part 6: Ensnared or, Ride of the Woltkyries

Chapter 6: Ensnared or, Ride of the Woltkyries

Roy and company enter Thria, southeast of Ostia.
Thria is governed by Lord Orun, Hector's half brother. Orun's home castle seems a safe place to stay.

We still haven't got a closer look at the two. We will, though, soon enough.

However, even Tria is within Bern's influence...

Speaking of Hector, Roy has decided that the best way to honour his memory is to grow a beard just as magnificent as Hector's. No one has the heart to tell him that with his hair colour, it looks more like a skin condition.

And thank Elimine or whoever else may be listening, we finally get a prep menu!

I eventually decide on this setup. Roy, being the protagonist and all, can't be taken out of the party, which turns out to be a good thing since there's Stuff he needs to do here. I've also distributed all the keys I bought because this map has a fuckton of doors.

Ten of them. I shit you not. Though, we only need to actually open eight, which is of course a much more manageable number.

Kinda.

That done, cutscene time.

...Is it just me or does this feel kinda backwards to anyone else? I mean, shouldn't we get the story that leads up to the fight, before we gear up for it? And we've just spoiled the boss for ourselves, too. I mean, he's obviously evil considering his portrait and all, but what if there's a boss who isn't obviously a puppy-punting asshat?

...Theoretically, I mean?

Hmm, looks like the north hall has all the valuables, but with that security-
...Are those footsteps?

New face. I already know she's a thief, otherwise I'd probably say something like how she's obviously a thief.

Yes, milord, the soldiers are stationed all around the castle.

Once they're inside and have their guard down, ambush them, just as with Lord Orun.

Yes, milord.

I want Princess Guinivere alive. The rest you can do with as you wish. Now go.

The generic disappears.

Ha ha ha ha... First the Silver Wolf's granddaughter, and now Princess Guinivere... With so much to offer, Bern is certain to allow us to join them.

...Okay, I guess it wasn't that much of a spoiler.

It certainly is.

Elsewhere in the castle...

I wonder. That man said he was Lord Orun's advisor...

Wagner? Did something seem wrong with him?

Aside from the fact that he was blatantly sitting on a throne while being red? Well, that and the fact that he's obviously a puppy-punting asshat.

He seemed to be in control of everything, as if he were the lord. And Lord Orun is so ill he can't even meet his guests? It all seems strange...

I'd say something about how Roy's brain seems to be working today, except I suspect it's more because he's so used to his own father who supposedly can't move but doesn't let that stop him.

"MERLINUS! Wheel me into the throne room, I have guests!"

Now that you mention it, you have a point.

Suddenly, Saul!

There seem to be an awful lot of soldiers patrolling the castle.

What? No...

...Hi?

And... who might you be?

Aw, I'm not one to talk about myself. I overheard that Wagner guy in the main hall though. He said they're gonna ambush you guys.

I'm liking Cath's portrait a lot, she looks hella shifty-eyed.

Lord Orun would never do that!

Oh yeah, he's dead, I think. Wagner assassinated him or something.

It was, like, totally uncool.

What?!

He wants to capture you all and turn you over to Bern.

We can't trust her word so easily!

He kinda has a point, I'm not sure I'd trust someone who keeps side-glancing at the fourth wall through the entire conversation.

It's up to you whether you trust me or not. But don't say I didn't warn ya!

Let's spring his trap. We'll pretend like we're leaving. If Wagner is after us, he'll try to persuade us to stay.

If you wanna get out, go through the north hall! That'll bring you to the courtyard, so you'll be outta here in no time. Good luck!

The three robe-y types run down the middle...

I will escort you back into the castle, so please follow me.

And Wagner is a predictable one-note villain who will never show up again.

My apologies, Sir Wagner. I have just received a report of grave importance. Please excuse us, but we must take our leave now.

Surely you would appreciate a warm bed after being in the field for so long. Lord Orun would be furious with me if you left without accepting our hospitality.

Don't worry, I shall tell Lord Orun myself that you are not to blame. I ought to at least offer him a greeting anyway. Please show us to his room.

As I said, milord, Lord Orun is ill and cannot accept guests.

If we cannot see him, then we must be off.

There's nothing I can offer to make you stay?

......

You leave me no choice then! Guards! Attack! Kill them all, but leave Princess Guinivere alive!

Smooth moves.

The girl was right! They were trying to ambush us!

Lord Roy! If we go this way, we'll be leaving our rear open to attack!

Then we'll seize the whole castle! Everyone, follow my lead!

Roy is not fucking around. I appreciate that!

Wagner is something new, a shaman, or dark magician.

What the Flux is that tome?

A traveling priest of the St. Elimine Church. On an important mission.

We've quite a while to go before we can actually fight him, however, so for now we'll finally look at our newest companions. Saul is like Elen, except not. I guess they wanted you to have options in case you got a healer killed early. Notably, he starts with more health, magic, speed, and defence than Elen, his speed growth is much better, but he's a little behind in magic and res and a lot behind in luck. I think I probably prefer Saul, personally, he seems like a cool dude.

Obligatory numbers: HP 60, Mag 40, Skl 45, Spd 45, Lck 15, Def 15, Res 50.

A girl from Kansas in service to the St. Elimine Church.

This is Dorothy. Dorothy is an archer. You know how this goes. Unlike Wolt, I've made no changes whatsoever to her (HP 85, Str 50, Skl 45, Spd 45, Lck 35, Def 15, Res 15), and she is getting benched so hard when this chapter is over. Don't get me wrong, A 50% strength growth is pretty good! ...But I already have Wolt who's better in just about every way.

Statistically she's probably better than vanilla Wolt... though that's not exactly difficult, considering he is widely regarded as the Worst Character Ever.

The enemies on this map are largely aggressive and will come to us. I'll just let them, it's not as if we're in a hurry.

A battle? What is going on out there?

Mystery green-haired chick! She's in one of the locked rooms on the left.

It's a nice setup, we're just in range for the mages to attack Wolt and Lugh and get countered right in the face. Pretend like I posted a picture of Wolt one-rounding the first one.

Lugh isn't quite up to that level yet, but he barely cares what they throw at him.

We'll let Dorothy have a moment in the sun. She does come with a steel bow, which lets her hit reasonably hard from the start, but she's not doubling and she's not one-shotting even mages.

Meanwhile, Wolt does this to physical units with an iron bow.

At least you never let me down.

Lugh is too squishy to get in on it, so he snipes this guy through a wall, because of course he can do that, can't you?

Elen tosses Saul her nearly-broken Heal staff so he can patch up the two damage Lugh took. When it comes to healers, they had better get all the exp they can.

And that's how he looks.

We're going to have to kill a Lot of dudes. Lot somehow manages not to miss his 69% hit rates...

...so he misses something else instead. Fuck you, Lot. Fuck you a Lot.

The missing continues on the following round.

All alone in the right passage, Allen still performs quite well.

Lot tries to redeem himself.

Wade is... oh come the fuck on.

Chad is also close to a level and...

...it's a strange, but not unwelcome one. He may be dodgy, but I expect he will have to take a hit sooner or later.

Lot gets an undeserved heal, bringing Elen to the same level as Saul. Notably, she is still slower and less magical. Who needs HP and defence?

Allen doesn't care to kill this dude (Bors can have this one), and prefers to opens a door instead. I get a feeling like maybe that was a mistake.

It's much the same on the other side.

Chad has better luck. I'm mostly interested in getting the rooms open so I can find out what's inside at this point, so he'll leave the chests for later. They both contain money; 5k and 3k. Nice!

Not a whole lot of enemies in here. Wolt sneaks up and puts two arrows in the lower mage, who promptly dies.

Chad gets to the next door. Sue...?

The granddaughter of the famed Silver Wolf of Sacae.

You're not the Shining Knight

I guess they really wanted you to bench Wolt after this map, holy shit.

HP 55, Str 30, Skl 55, Spd 65, Lck 50, Def 10, Res 15. Compared to Dorothy, she is squishier, weaker, but significantly faster and dodgier - and she comes with a horse and a promotion that lets her use swords. If you're actually going to use an archer in vanilla, she's probably the best out of the three? I guess.

Suddenly Cath! And I actually knew about her and the fact that I have to talk to her with Roy.

Time to pilfer what I can now that security's busy.

Security is about to get dead, lady.

Any moment now.

Deader now. Both the mages attack Wolt. Both the mages die. Wolt dodges one spell (that would have left him at 1 HP) and is left with 98 EXP.

Mend is Heal, but bigger and better. Heal recovers 10 HP plus the user's Mag score (so not a whole lot damn it Elen) while Mend restores 20.

Chad opens a door and oops. The chest holds an Unlock staff, which is a magical door key with three uses and 1-2 range. Not bad, I guess, but he has to survive long enough to grab it!

And as expected, reinforcements pour up the stairs on both sides.

...

Of course, Chad isn't strong enough to even scratch this guy in retaliation.

Dodged a ~~bullet~~ javelin there. Now I don't have to restart.

maybe I should have anyway because fuck you Lot and Wade

Chad runs the fuck away. A few of our less squishy people will need to handle this room.

Wolt gets a rather Hector level chipping away at a knight,

...Roy gets a pretty nice one finishing it off,

...and Lance fucking finally gains strength killing a soldier a little further in.

Bors doubles soldies, why not?

You are on thin fucking ice, Bors.

Dorothy... does not compare favourably to the enemy archers. But since Saul is right behind her, she can still survive this, so she takes the shot.

Lot does a Lot better than Bors killing the soldier who was blocking the doorway.

We have a bunch of dudes on the right side, so they clean out all the reinforcements this turn. Roy goes to chat up Sue in the hopes that she'll be able to do something useful.

What'a girl doing in here?

Sexist.

You aren't with the castle?

My name is Roy. Who are you?

I am Sue. Are you the one causing that noise outside?

Noise?

The noise of battle.

Oh, I guess so. We're fighting the castle guards. It's a bit of a long story...

I see. Then I will join your side.

You will? Why?

The soldiers of this castle have done me wrong.

What? What do you mean...?

"They were talking about exploring some kind of labyrinth and fighting an evil sorcerer, and when I said I had no idea what they were on about they tossed me in jail. Fuckers."

Please give me a bow. I will fight with you.

I do not have a bow. But at least now I can move Sue, which counts for something I guess?

Cath opens the next room.

I don't want her making off with my treasure, though. Yoink!

Allen gets a pretty nice level killing the second of the two soldiers who spawned on the left. Only an archer left now. Roy kills him on the next turn.

Lot uses a door key.

...

I forgot about this guy. Looks like he forgot about himself, too.

Lugh does have a key, but I'm kind of wary of this room after the one on the left. I want someone a little sturdier doing this.

And Roy finally makes his way over to chat up Cath.

Oops...

Wait!

Hey, cut it out! Let go of my arm! Ow! That hurts!

Oh, I'm sorry. But what are you doing here?

Well, uh, you know, this and that. I'm a busy girl. Ha ha ha...

Here? In a battlefield?

Oh yes, precisely BECAUSE this is a battlefield-
Whoops, better watch my tongue...

Do you have some ulterior motive?

Uh...

Wait, is that why you told us the escape route?

Um, what? Sorry, I'm a little deaf in this ear!

Just who are you?

Don't worry about it! Forget you saw me. Gotta go. Cheers!

I could say the same! Join my party, damn it!

Chad gets to looting. The short bow is a +10 crit bow. Could be decent, I guess? The others are a Goddess icon (+2 Luck) and a Killer axe (you know what this does). Sweet.

Also, it's time to get started on the last room.

The less said about the last room, the better.

Time for our horsey people to ferry Chad to all the other rooms. The lower one here has a silver lance and 2000 gold.

While he's slowly making the rounds, a sixpack of enemies spawn where we started.

This is all that comes of it.

This doesn't count.

The last three enemies refuse to move no matter what. We'll just snipe them from outside their reach; they deserve it for being so dumb.

And then there was one.

Witness my magic... and bow down before its power!

Dude, you have 14 attack. 14.

It's a new attack animation, though.

Roy gets an amazing level-up out of it.

Wolt, not so lucky. Wagner can two-shot him, so he gets rescued out of reach.

Elen at least does have some use. Wagner will happily plink away at her for five points round after round while the rest of us put holes in all his organs.

Not Lugh, though.

Not Wade either. That looks dangerous.

As does this god damn you guys suck.

Wolt manages to hit him next round and does okay.

But Roy gets the finishing strike, and that's a wrap.

My grandfather is the strongest warrior in Sacae. People call him the Silver Wolf.

The Silver Wolf... I've heard tales of him. But what are you doing in Lycia? This is a long way from Sacae.

Bern invaded Sacae, so the Kutolah clan decided to take up arms. Grandfather had the women and children escape to Lycia, but...

But?

There was a traitor. The Djute clan, who turned to Bern's side, ambushed us.

......

We were all separated. I found my way into this land and I was rescued by Lord Orun. But Wagner, his advisor, assassinated Lord Orun and took over the castle.

And that's when you were captured...

Is your army fighting Bern?

Yes, we will fight for as long as it takes.

Then let me join you. Fighting Bern may lead me to Grandfather. Lord Orun deserves vengeance as well.

We're headed for Ostia, in the west. Sacae is in the east, the opposite direction. Is that all right?

I don't mind. No matter where we are, Mother Earth and Father Sky will watch over me.

Roy is doing well! I like him.

A quick fade, and-

He says that Ostia is in a state of anarchy!

There's been a rebellion among those who want to surrender to Bern.

Is Lilina safe?

The spy says that she has been taken hostage. The rebels already took over Castle Ostia and are fighting the loyalist soldiers.

Hector's bloodline can not be allowed to die out, it would be a tremendous blow for the entire world! Next time we get started on preventing that in chapter 7: The Ostian Revolt.