Part 76: Endgame - Addendum

Bonus Update: Conversations Only Morons Would See

So you know how Ashnard wears blessed armour that can only be damaged by Ike, Nasir/Ena, Giffca, Tibarn and Naesala, and you should never ever ever let anyone else anywhere near him? Well, it turns out the guy has quite a lot to say to various people who have no business fighting him.

Note that most of these lines are the same no matter which "version" of Ashnard you are fighting; a few insert a token amount of extra words if he's in his second phase, and even these aren't very consequential.

Before that, though, here's what Bryce has to say:

To Ena...

Ena... You, too, have had your fate warped by the king. You should pray that you at least know peace in your final moments.


And to Tauroneo...

Ah, Tauroneo... I see that you have found another path to follow. Perhaps you were inspired by my old friend Gawain.

Tell me, Bryce. Beyond mountains of corpses, what do you see Ashnard bringing to the future of this place?

... I see nothing, save for a land of absolute darkness and terror.

Then why fight by his side?

Some men can change, Tauroneo. Others cannot... I am of the latter type. There is no other reason.


Alright, enough of him, let's hear from Ashnard. First, his generic battle quote:

One blow. For nameless wretches like you, one blow is more than enough.

...and in a lot of cases, he's not far wrong, either.


Anyway. Ena:

Heh heh... Heeee heeee heh... So you're still alive, are you?

...

Do you really want to do this? Do you believe you can defeat me?

I... I was mistaken. You are truly mad... ... Even so... I wanted to be near you. If I could have been near you, it would have been all right...

Did you think I would allow that? Whaaaa haa haa haaaaa!

King Ashnard of Daein. You will die at my hand!


Nasir:

A white dragon! To meet with you here... Wheeee haa haa haaaa! For me, there is no greater joy!

King Daein... There is a reason I had to meet you.

And that is?

I would have you tell me how to heal my warped and twisted laguz brothers. If you created them, you should know how to restore them.

That... That is what you want? Whaaa haaa haaa haaaaa! Fool! There never was such a cure!

... What have you... done... It is... already... too late...

Tell me, dragon, were you our Worm? Heh heh heh. I see... So your goal is to stop the Goldoans from fighting. Tsk, tsk, tsk!

We dragons are known for our wrath. Even spilling your blood today will not atone for what you have done!

Despise me! Loathe me! Whaaa haa haa haaaaaa! I will feast on your hatred! Let your hate build, dragon! Attack me with everything you have! I know your strength is not gone yet!


Elincia:

Ashnard!

What? You again, Princess Crimea? I told you, you are not the foe I seek.

You may not think so... Yet my purpose here is to defeat you. In the name of my father, my mother, my lord uncle, and the countless citizens of Crimea... You murdered them all! And I will never forgive you that!

In the world I am creating, only those with power will be allowed to live. Hurry and die, weakling!


Tibarn:

Oh, the king of hawks! Meeting your feathered carcass here today is... Fantastic! I am so pleased!

As am I. I want to rake my talons across your face so much, I can hardly control myself.

Waaaaa haaaa haaa! Heeee heee haaa! Perfect! PERFECT!!! That is what war is all about!

Come. Let's get started.


Naesala:

Just thinking about fighting you makes me want to forget the whole thing. Heck, it's not like I'm getting paid... Say... Do you want to hire me?

What's this? Do you wish to return to Daein's loving embrace?

I do... If you agree to make me very, very rich.

Enough of your lies, crow. Even now, your beady eyes look to find a chink in my armor.

Ah... you found me out. All right, let's proceed in earnest. No more tricks... Oh, look over there! Didn't work, eh? Then die, madman! I won't be doing you any favors if I let you live.


Mist:

As long as you're alive, this war can not end. How many lives have you stolen with your selfishness?

You ask that of me? You? A girl? Pah! Trivial. You're not worth the effort it would take to kill you.

Give me back my medallion! You aren't supposed to have it!

Are you... Gawain's daughter?

I am! And like my father and mother before me, I will protect the world from your madness!

Heh heh... Hwah hah hah hah... Wheeee haaa haaa haaaaaarrr! Perhaps I'll kill you after all! If you are their child, you get special privileges! Show me your might!


Reyson:

Galdr singer, did you come here today so that I might take ownership of you?

I have something to ask you. Were you the one who stole the medallion and my sister, Lillia, from Serenes Forest?

You know that already, do you not? Why would you come all this way to ask something you already know? Do you wish me to deny it?

If the dark god is awakened, the world will once again be flooded. And this time, even our continent will fall. You will not survive that event... Do you truly desire such an end?

I do. Oh, how I do... It's true. The world may be destroyed by the coming of the dark god. Then again, it may not. I question the way in which our society is designed. No matter what strength a person has, it is the station he is born into that controls his destiny. And you cannot control where you will be born. Do you believe that a person of low birth should simply endure the curse of his station? I think not. If you are stronger than those around you, you should benefit from your strength. This is why I will use my strength to remake this world. Class and rank will not matter. Human and sub-human will not matter. The strong will possess everything. The weak will submit to their will. Is this not the meaning of peace?

Are you saying that the lives of those without strength have no value?

That is the natural order. The only way for the weak to survive is to cling to the strong. Our discussion is over. Tell me, frail little bird who cannot fight; which do you choose? Submission? Or death?

...Life proffered to me by your hand is something I would never accept!

Very well... Then I will give you the alternative! You will be a weight around my neck no more!


Tauroneo:

Is that you, Tauroneo? As I thought... You betrayed me after all.

...In my father's time, there was a man who was one of the Four Steadfast Riders. That man grew old and useless, and retired from the front lines. How does his story end, you ask? Come, let us write it together.

Oh, my king... In all of Daein's history, perhaps no other ruler has used the talents at his command to the degree you have... But all the same, no other king has chosen a path so incredibly stupid.

Heh heh heh... Will history judge me to be just or evil? We will not know until all of this is finished.

...Now that I've confronted you and traded words with you, I have come to a decision. Throughout Daein, I, Tauroneo, will be known as the king killer. Come! Let me earn my name!


Haar:

Who are you, dog?

You don't seem to recall my name... I'm a man who was once a part of your army, if just barely.

You're some nobody who turned traitor and joined the Crimeans? I've no interest in you. Begone.

I'll leave as quickly as I'm able. Right after I've taken your head!


Jill:

Annoying little insect. Whose path is it that you think to block?

... My father died because of you. He tried so hard... to prove he was a loyal citizen of Daein. And you never recognized his efforts. Not even once.

Are you complaining to me? Come back some other time. I'm busy.

Answer me! My father was General Shiharam! Why did he have to die?

Eh? Who are you talking about? The name is unfamiliar... I don't think we ever had such a general.

What?

This is a waste of time. Leave my sight at once.

... Ashnard... Ashnard!! ASHNARD!! I... will never forgive you! NEVER!!!

So there you go.