Part 2: Footsteps of Fate

A strange pair on an even stranger journey. To prepare for the long road ahead, they go to Bulgar, the commercial center of Sacae.



Every chapter opens with a bit of background on the world map. Usually it just involves some movement in between countries or whatever.





: This is Bulgar, the biggest city in all of Sacae. We should purchase supplies for our journey.





: Would you not favor me with your name? Or better yet, your company?

: Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?

: Ha! I thought you'd never ask! I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home to men of passion and fire!

: Shouldn't that be "home to callow oafs with loose tongues"?



: Ooooh... You're even lovely when you're cruel.



: Wait! Please...



: Ah, Kent! My boon companion! Why so severe an expression?

: If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!

: I know that. But how could I remain silent in the prescence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!

: What do you know of courtesy!?



: If you would be so kind as to move your horses...

: Of course. My apologies...

: Thank you. You, at least, seem honorable enough.

: Hm? Pardon me, but... I feel we've met before.

: Hey! No fair, Kent! I saw her first!



: It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's knights! Let's go Art, I've run out of patience!



: ...Sain, you lout!

: Huh? Not like that? I thought you were...

: I am NOT you! Come, we must follow her. I suspect she might be-

: Be what? She's our mission? You're joking! Wait!



: Could it be those knights from town? No... It's not them. These men are out for blood!



: Your name is Lyndis, is it not?

: What did you call me? ...Who are you?

: Such a waste. An absolute waste. The things I'll do for gold... Ah, well. Time to die, darlin'! C'mon out, boys!



Another day, another ambush, I suppose.



Oh please, we could easily handle them alone. There's only four of them.





: Hold! You there! What is your business? Such numbers against a girl? Cowards, every one of you!

: You! You're from-

: We can discuss that later. It appears these ruffians mean to do you harm. If it's a fight they want, let them look to me!

: Stand back! I'll take care of this!

: No, this is my fight. Stay out of my way!

: I have a solution. You there, command us. I am Kent, a knight of Lycia. My companion is Sain. We will follow your orders in this battle. Is this acceptable, milady?

: Yes, it is. Art and I will lead!



: I want to impress my beauteous one! Let me attack first!

Alright, time to begin the battle, first let's check out our friends here.



Sain here is strong, but that's his only outstanding stat. Cavaliers as a whole are a lot like that; they're balanced, but don't really stand out in any way aside from movement. Also, he has a weapon level in both swords and lances. Weapon levels dictate which types and how strong of weapons a unit is allowed to wield. To increase it, simply use that type of weapon in battle.



Kent is a little more balanced than his friend, and is more proficient with swords than lances.



Since Sain wants to impress so badly, we'll start with him. He's not the most accurate, but quite strong.



Well, so much for that.



: Sain! Why aren't you using your sword?

: The lance is more heroic. A knight should look heroic, don't you think?

: You're hopeless. If you don't take fighting more seriously, you're going to find yourself on the end of a blade!

: Truth be told, I...forgot to buy a sword.

: Forgot? Or were you simply too busy dallying with the ladies?

: Don't be so mad! I'll be fine with a lance. I'm that good!

: I'd prefer to rely on your skill, not your empty bragging! Take my spare blade and use it to attack next time!

: Are you sure? Thanks Kent!

: You're almost more trouble than you're worth. Almost.

Oh, Sain, you're so useless. As they were saying, there's a concept called the weapon triangle. Essentially, except for some special weapons, swords beat axes, axes beat lances, and lances beat swords. Being on the winning side of the weapon triangle will grant you +1 damage and +15 Hit, and going against it will cost you the same.



If you compare Kent and Sain's hit rate, you can see how drastic of a change that can be. Next we bring in Lyn to finish him off. Next turn!

Turn 2



The bandits above and below have moved a little closer, but nothing dangerous yet. Sain wants another chance to redeem himself, so we'll send him after the lower bandit.



Oh for god's sake. You really are useless.



: Sain! Are you all right?

: Yes. Yes, I am. I was able to dodge in time. I can't believe he evaded my sword stroke so easily! This is no jest.

: Look closely, the enemy is hidden in the woods. The branches make it difficult to attack, don't they?

: You're right. I was so focused on attacking... I didn't see.

: Your lack of attention may cost you your life someday!

: Fine! I understand already! Let it go, Kent!

: Kent worries too much. ...He's going to grow old before his time.



Kent moves down and attacks the bandit, and we move Lyn up toward the north bandit.

Turn 3



: Yes! Sain the gallant of Caelin, that's me.

: If you insist... Why have you not healed yourself?

: Huh? Hey! I've been injured? What a cad I am! To wrinkle that perfect brow of yours with worry for me...

: Uh... I was thinking of giving you a vulnerary, but... It looks like you're fine. So never mind.

: No, wait! I'll take it! Please! I'll take it!



: The healing power of love awaits with yon angel! Art! Tarry no longer!

This is the trading tutorial. Park any two units next to one another, and you can swap items among their inventories. Quite useful, especially considering that we can only hold five items, including our weapons.



We dump Sain with our used Vulnerary and he heals up.



One very useful thing about mounted units is that they can move again after taking an action. Any non-combat action will let them move the remainder of their movement for the turn.

Kent goes and kills the bottom bandit, while Lyn moves up another forest.

Turn 4



During the enemy phase, this guy went after Sain, so he kills him off. Lyn moves closer to the boss, and Kent moves right.

Turn 5



The bandit attacked Kent, but he's not quite weak enough for Sain to finish. Sain attacks him bringing him to 1 HP, and Kent kills him, netting a level up.



Eh...alright, I guess. Really could have gone for some strength or extra speed. Lyn moves up next to the boss, and ends the turn.



The boss isn't anything special.



He attacks Lyn during the enemy phase. He misses, and she leaves him with 9 HP.

Turn 6

At this point, Sain's had enough abuse I figure he can have a kill. Lyn steps aside and Sain kills the boss, and gets a level up himself.



: There was only...supposed to be a lone...girl...



Getting a point in resistance is nice, because he probably won't be doing that very often.

And that brings the battle to a close.





: You were going to share your story with me?



: Lycia... That's the country beyond the mountains in the southwest, isn't it?

: Correct. We've come as messengers to the lady Madelyn, who eloped with a nomad some 19 years ago.

: Madelyn?

: Our lord the marquess of Caelin's only daughter. He was heartbroken his own daughter would abandon him so. Eventually, the marquess simply declared that he had no daughter.



: It said that she, her husband, and their daughter were living happily on the Sacae plains. The marquess was ecstatic to learn he had a granddaughter of 18 years. I remember the smile on his face when he announced that he'd suddenly become a grandfather. The grandaughter's name is Lyndis. This was also the name of the marquess's wife, who passed away at an early age.

: Lyndis?

: That she should bear this name thawed the marquess's heart. Now, his only wish is to meet his daughter's family at least once. This is why we're here. We didn't know that Lady Madelyn died a few days after sending her letter. We only learned this shortly after we arrived here in Bulgar.



: We heard that she was living alone on the plains... I... I knew it immediately. You are the lady Lyndis.

: Why would you think that...

: Your resemblance to your departed mother is remarkable.

: What? Did you know my mother?

: I'm sorry to say I never met her directly, but I saw her portraits in Castle Caelin.



: But when I was with my parents... When it was just the three of us, I was Lyndis. It's all so strange. I was all alone in the world and now I have a grandfather. Lyndis... I never thought I would hear that name again.



: That bandit! He called me Lyndis too!

: What? How could he have-

: ...He was a henchman of Lord Lundgren, wasn't he?

: Lundgren? Who's that?



: Everyone assumed the lady Madelyn was gone forever. This made Lord Lundgren heir to the marquess's title.

: To be blunt, milady, your existence is an obstacle to your granduncle's ambitions.



: Unfortunately, your granduncle is not the sort of man to believe that. I believe the attempts on your life will persist.

: What should I do?

: Accompany us to Caelin. Continuing on this way is dangerous.

: I feel I have little choice. I will go with you.



: What will you do, Art? You...want me to decide? Of course, your companionship would do much to ease my journey, but... It's going to be so dangerous. You'll come? Are you sure? Thank you! Let me ask once again for your friendship and your aid.

-----


Growth rates:
HP: 80%
Strength: 60%
Skill: 35%
Speed: 40%
Luck: 35%
Defense: 20%
Resistance: 20%

Almost every Fire Emblem game features a pair of red and green knights, and this one's no exception. What is different is that their roles are switched. Usually the red knight has a heavier focus on strength than skill and speed (See Kieran vs. Oscar, for example), but it doesn't really matter. Sain's pretty solid, but I find Kent and another cavalier we'll meet in Eliwood's story make better endgame Paladins.



Growth Rates:
HP: 85%
Strength: 40%
Skill: 50%
Speed: 45%
Luck: 20%
Defense: 25%
Resistance: 25%

Kent is the red half of the duo here, though with a typical green knight's stat growths. I find Kent to be more reliable than Sain, because though Sain will be much stronger, Kent is going to be faster and actually be able to hit things. It's really a matter of preference which one you go with, and there's plenty of room for both if you want to go that route.