Part 23: Ocean's Parting or, Revenge of the Fliers

forcing out the revolutionaries.




Ilia, the frozen highlands, is a land with short summers and long winters. With so little arable land, the nation's main source of income is mercenary contracts.


Now a joint force under the name of the Eturian Army, their first mission is to enter Ilia and finish off the revolutionaries.


Roy, nominated as leader of the Eturian Army, has the powerful support of the St. Elimine Church. With the church's support comes also the support of the people.
However, Roy has to face not only the freezing cold of Ilia,


Even worse, many skilled mercenary knights of Ilia have sided with Bern.



Gonna conquer the shit out of that castle... eventually.



This looks like a breather map, and I happened to notice it has an arena. I'm going to try and get some of these scrubs up to par and decide if I want them promoted or demoted. Probably not going to need all three cavs, what with Marcus () being here and Schwarth (and maybe Zeiss if he's a good boy) being even more mobile, so I'm planning to see whether AlLance or Jerrot impress me more and promote one while the other gets benched and forgotten.



Also, there's this thing! It's... there, I suppose.



And here's a map! Note the islands. Each has a ballista. We will be letting our fliers handle those, because it's hilarious.



Well then.



"And about fucking time, too. I was gonna shank him when no one's looking if he survived that battle."

So it seems.
General Murdock, I still feel uncomfortable that we didn't go to his aid.

The king's orders explicitly said to leave him on his own. Bern's army has no use for a man who cannot manage his own messes.

It's an excuse as good as any other. Either way, he's dead. We killed him a whole lot. It was glorious.



Now for the next idiot!

Arcardo, I leave Castle Remi to you. Roartz, you will take Castle Edessa. Make preparations to defend against the enemy.

What?! Remi is right on the border! The enemy will be here in short time!

That much is true. But this position gives us an invaluable strategic advantage against Eturia. You must ensure that this castle does not fall into enemy hands.

Edessa lies all the way in the outer tundra of Ilia...

Yes, so you will have ample time to prepare your defenses.

...You... intend only to take the defensive? You don't mean to take back Eturia?

We play the waiting game for now. We will take Eturia some day. And once we do, it will be under Bern's jurisdiction.

What about us?! That's not what we agreed upon!


You have done nothing to deserve such renumeration.
If you'll excuse us.



What is this strange, fuzzy sensation in my chest? Could it be... happiness?!



We are not to blame if they fall. It is their own incompetence. Our army's code states that every officer must be capable and self-sufficient. Perhaps they should have considered that before joining us...

But then I wouldn't get to see them squirm, and we couldn't have that.

The enemy leader... Roy, was it?

Yes, Roy of Pherae.

I admit he has rebuilt the Lycian Army magnificently. I thought it finished after we crushed it the first time... I hope to cross blades with him before the war is finished.

The two of them fly off.



And as usual, we get a little scene with Roy before the map. I'm beginning to see why people are saying this would be a good time for him to promote... but of course, we don't roll like that.

Thank you for everything, Father Yoder. We've only made it this far thanks to the assistance of the church.

I am only repaying your favor. Had you not captured Aquleia, we would suffer great persecution from Bern. This is nothing compared to what you did for us.

It was my pleasure to help the church.

If I may be so bold... Can I ask one more favor?

Of course, if I am capable.

If you discover anything else about the dragons...

Say no more. If I find anything new, I will report to you immediately.

Roy very carefully does not look in Fae's direction.

You have my eternal thanks.
...Oh yes, I have some information that may be of use. At a certain time of day, the sea level drops, exposing a crossable sandbar.



It would take much time to make your way around the bay to the castle. However, crossing the sandbar would be a direct journey.

I'll bear it in mind.

However you choose ro proceed, please be careful. Rushing forward has its dangers as well.

Thank you for your advice.

Not at all. May the Eturian Army go with Saint Elimine's blessing.

And that's it for the talky bits.



I thought I heard a familiar sounding name, we should probably bring this guy so he can take back his castle at some point.

Now though, time for murder!



Two ballista buttheads, and an axe dude who's completely pointless in every possible way. Let's get 'em!



This is why Lance needs the arena.



We'll let Hugh handle it instead.



Since I have an infinite source of exp here, I don't really care who handles the regular enemies, as long as they get handled.



Most of the enemies are aggressive and will come running around the water to attack us. Dorothy will be killing like all of them.



Zeiss borrowed the Delphi shield since his defence is a little lower than Schwarth's. He is not impressed by the ballista.



Bye now.

I trust you need no screenshots of what happens to the the other guy, since I'm sending Schwarth in his direction.



You think I'm kidding when I say Dorothy will kill everything?



The cap for regular snipers is only 23 strength? Should probably do something about that...



Shanna gets to do something useful for once.



Holy fucking shit strength.


a sandbar appears in the bay? It's a path right through the ocean. Good luck!

Roy visits a house and gets some very stale information.


I remember once I was getting ready to go fishing, but by the time I had my boat ready, the tide had already gone out.

The quality of flavour text NPCs has gone to hell since we left home.



I'm just posting this because I find it funny. 4 hit



That... kinda hurts, though.


It was once used by the noble Lady Tina...

Fae gets a Tina's staff from the village. It looks like a mend staff with a lower staff level and more uses? Pretty nice!



Zeiss sits back so he can watch his sister show how it's done.

The bishop misses.



Schwarth does not.



Some of the cavs also suicide at her. I'd complain if Schwarth wasn't already capable of soloing the entire map.



That's why I'm considering benching you two.

I know, but a challenge is just what I want.

Allen, I have something to request of you. If we lose.

If we lose?

Yes.
...If it ever looks like defeat is certain, I want you to take Lord Roy and retreat. I will act as a decoy for the enemy and buy you time.

What? But what about you?

If it has to be one of us, it may as well be me. I've served House Pherae the shortest, so-

Have you lost your mind?!

...Allen?

If you're staying, then so will I. I won't allow you to run headfirst into certain death alone.

But you're one of a long line of knights serving House Pherae. It's better that you take Lord Roy and flee.

How long you've served means nothing! Let me ask you this. Do you consider yourself any less loyal than the other knights?

......

No answer? Then allow me.
You're just as valuable as any of us! You've held to your knightly vows admirably! I've been your partner ever since you came to House Pherae so I know that well!

Allen...

Don't throw your life away, Lance. Lord Roy needs you. We all do.

Iiiii wouldn't go quite that far, but it's nice that you care I guess.



Let the arena fuckery begin.



A short while later, the sandbar shows up.



What?!

According to the locals, the tide pulls out this time of day...





Curses! Charge! Don't allow the enemy to cross that path!

Good luck with that, but we'll be sitting around here for a bit longer.



Did the sandbar appear?

Yes, Father Yoder was right.

Did the enemy know about it?

Actually, no. They seem to be in a panicked state.


Move forward!

When I'm bloody well done!



Apparently this guy had a new spell or something, but he never got to use it, so sad.



Pfft!



Instead, let's get Cath some levels. She's... not Chad, let's just say.



Strength is good.



Allen shows him up. What the fuck's with that speed, you're supposed to be the slow cav!



The forts start spewing reinforcements. Yes, please do send pegs against my archer.



Mag!



All right Zeiss, let me see what you can



do

...

are you fucking kidding me



Damn, she saw me!

i mean

I wasn't going to do anything, I just found this axe lying around and was going to put it someplace safe!

!!




I was too focused on the enemies in front of me.

Don't worry about it. Gale often looked out of me like this, too. If we can survive by helping each other, then that's fine by me.

I think you're breaking Bern's code of military conduct here, but hey, what do I care, the blue paint dried long ago.

But I need to learn to defend myself on my own...

You're still inexperienced. It's all right. I'll watch your back until you're strong enough.

...Thanks.


I must become strong enough to protect her, too...!

Probably not going to happen if you keep that up, just saying!



This is me remembering that I gave Shanna an elysian whip in case she managed to not die horribly getting to 20. That +6 HP isn't too shabby!



Speed is more understandable on Lance.



Look, it's not an empty level! You shithead!



You're a shithead too.



wow so impressive

well let's promote this jerk anyway, I have enough whips for everyone I could possibly care to use.



Still a shithead, unworthy of rad hair.



You're all shitheads!



Even Roy gets in on it.



Hugh is not a shithead. This time.



You're still no Chad, but that's not bad.



That kinda is! Can you hear the bench? It's calling your name.



For whatever reason,



this Sleep staff guy isn't doing anything even though he could.



Better.



Worse, but Schwarth is in range to kill him next round so he won't do it again.



Level 20!



Schwarth is not a horse.



She doesn't have an axe either, god damn you guys suck.



+4 mag

Hugh is officially past Noah in the Mag department, colour me surprised.

(It's sort of loud yellowy green in case you didn't know.)



Some more enemies suicide on Schwarth.



Cath continues to be Not Chad.



Other enemies fail to hit the broad side of a sleeping wyvern.



ehhhh



better.



Hugh's staff is green, too. He really likes green.



ehhhhhhhhhhhh



Why not let Saul get in on the fun, too?



oh wait I remember this is why fuck you Saul



I feel like I need to vent some frustration so let's torment Arcardo a bit.


An Eturian noble. Led the mining operation in the Western Isles.

After we look at his stats. He has an axe and a chuckable spear he's never going to equip because I'm going to rescuedrop Dorothy out of range after she hits him, very scary.


What have I done to deserve such a fate?!

I don't know, but if you think really hard you might be able to come up with something!



Wait, I have another reason, too!



And that's 20.





The three of them are... fairly comparable, statwise, but I like Jerrot's defence, and there's also the fact that I doubt anyone has ever used him on charges of being terrible, so



consider your paladunce status reinstated, as long as you don't think you can replace Elderly Hedgehog in my heart.



You won't be replacing anything in my heart.



Jerrot picks up Roy and heads for the castle.



Hey, not bad! Can you do it again?



Arcardo is actually kinda scary if you're a very tiny dragon with levels in the single digits.


I cannot... die... in a place such as this... Gah!

So I had Dorothy shoot him a couple of times first.



At least you never disappoint me.



Unlike some people I could mention.



...



Fuck this shit, we're done.


What a pathetic ending for one with so much power.

Pathetic and fitting, I enjoyed that a lot.

A year ago I myself never imagined I would be leading an army. Fate can be unpredictable... With any luck, the same will be true for Bern, too.


Lord Roy, what is that in your hand?

"No, not Arcardo's gold fillings, I saw you take those from the ashes, the other hand."

Oh, this? It's the Fire Emblem.

That tiny gemstone...?

I take it Roy is not getting a rad infinite use chest key shield thingy.

Princess Guinivere wanted me to keep it. It seemed... difficult for her to give it to me... I think she still hoped to end the war with diplomacy...

Hm... Perhaps she had faith in her brother. Even if that seems unlikely.

Why do you say that?

Because Zephiel is the treacherous king of Bern! It is said that he murdered his own father. I don't expect he would be moved by family trust...



Didn't you know, Lord Roy? Zephiel took the throne because his father, King Desmond, passed on. But because King Desmond's death was so sudden, there were rumors.

So they said...?

...Yes, that Zephiel assassinated him.

...Does Princess Guinivere know about this?

I'm sure she is at least aware of the rumors. She may even know the whole story.

......

'Course, those of us who played FE7 would probably say we know what's up, except FE7 retcons the hell out of this game so who even knows what they were thinking when they made it.



Pretty nice name for chapter 17, I had thought it was about a completely different kind of parting (Arcardo doesn't count). But we're parting with it now, so next time it's all about frozen rivers... I guess.