Part 42: Chapter 17x: Thiefless Speedrun (Battle)

Chapter 17x: Thiefless Speedrun (Prep)

Right. So, this is a pretty quick and simple chapter. If you’ve managed to make it this far, you shouldn’t have any trouble with Helena Palace.

: Lord Dactyl, I’ve brought the mage.

That’s a Sorcerer, but I understand.



Dactyl’s portrait is fucking fantastic, by the way. How are all these good portraits trapped in the Gaidens?




: Well, then? Have you been persuaded to fight for us?

: ...Never. I’d rather die.

: You’d rather DIE? Ha! As if a spell-slinging vagabond like you has any choice in the matter! Enough. Strip him of all his possessions and lock him up someplace. Perhaps we can use him later.


: There’s not much to strip him of, milord. Just the tome and this ring…

: Ring? Let me have a look at that.





: O-oi! Take your hands off Lord Dactyl!

: Rrgh...please, not the ring! Give it BACK!

*Implied Action Takes Place, Shame About Those Portrait Limitations*

: Unhand me, you filthy maggot!

: Nngh! ...Unnh…

: Take this wretch away. Now!

: At once, milord!

: Hmph, all that for some tawdry ring. ...Hmm? That gives me an idea...




There’s really nothing interesting I’m doing at the start of this turn except putting Norne in Horseman range to take him out. Parthia lends her some serious power, and that speed is pretty great too.




The enemies on this map really aren’t anything to speak of. Very few promoted foes, and a lot of weak unpromoted ones to serve as experience chaff. At the end of the first turn, a scene triggers.




: Good. I’ve had a change of heart. I am considering giving that ring of yours back.

: …!


: BUT...you must fight the League for us. How much considering I do hinges on how well you fight.

: ...And how am I to fight unarmed, my lord?

MONKS FOR FE15/16 WHATEVER THE ONE AFTER VALENTIA IS

: Hmm? ...Ah. Yes, well, you can have your little book back. But you know what the consequences will be if you betray us...




Etzel enters the bottom of the map. We’ll ignore him for now.




Sedgar doesn’t even need promotion gains to kick ass.




Marth and a few leftover units are heading to the right side to open the doors here while the rest clear the main path on the left. Just a Chest in this first one.




This area is probably the only one on the map I’d worry about. This hallway is crawling with ranged units, including magic wielders, and a Manakete blocking the exit. Frey should do fine, though.




Now that’s a nice prize.




: To this day I’m not sure how they conquered the continent.

: Grandpa knocked one of them out cold with a loaf of stale bread.




This is more worrying, but nothing Sedgar can’t handle. He also can’t double, but that’s a very minor inconvenience.




This second door seems to just have a dragon in it. What a dick! By the way, if you have both a Master and Door Key in your inventory, it uses the Master. Or maybe it’s just the one on top.




Get outta here.




A wizard! These doors blow!




Even Arran is one rounding these goons.




In a sneaky move, there is a Chest behind the mage, but you have to scroll a bit to the right to see it.




Pretty handy for Barst, especially considering we’ve got Paladins on the horizon.




Now that we’ve mostly cleared the map, it’s time to take a look at Etzel. He’s really not even trying, he won’t move from that spot and will only attack if you wander into his range. Just don’t provoke him.




There are reinforcements, and they’re actually quite a bit more frightening than the enemies we’ve fought so far. The other two have Javelins. Still not huge threats, but not just punching bags.




Horace should be able to bother their advance a bit.




Fed up with waiting for Marth, so Barst is gonna open the door up.




Ah shit.




Thankfully, instead of both Bishops going for Caeda (who they could kill), they both went for Barst...who they did not.




Enough of that silliness.




One more locked door on this side. Athena’s running backup here.




We ended up not needing her. I want Merric to get some experience, since he’s got some room before I scrounge up another Seal.




You might notice something about the end of this map. That’s the fact that there doesn’t seem to be a way into this last area. No doors.




This is a rude trick.




As soon as you round the corner, the party reveals itself. Hope you didn’t leave a flier next to that south wall!




We can finally look at Dactyl, and he’s thoroughly...bad.




The mercenaries will rush you, but they aren’t worth worrying about.




Ooh. I guess the Secret Shop isn’t the only place to get this.




: No foe could withstand my magical might!




Another wave of the Paladins shows up on Turn 14, exactly the same as the first one. I’ve got Horace and Norne on it.




Now then, Dactyl.





This has been: Dactyl.




This was a Crit! Good thing it was against Horace!




The penultimate chest has an interesting little reward.




The Wo Dao is basically the Killing Edge, but with More Killing and quite possibly More Edge.




The last treasure’s less interesting, but no less handy.









Oh yeah, Malledus still exists, huh?

: This much gold should buy plenty of equipment. Might I suggest, sire, you avail yourself of this opportunity to outfit your soldiers? Our next opponent will be Grust’s Sable Order. By our scouts’ reports, they march to meet us as we speak. Many say their knights are the strongest on the continent. We’ll want to be well prepared.

I’m actually not sure if this gives you gold, or how much. There’s no pop up and I wasn’t wise enough to compare before and after.



: ...Who are you?

: His royal charisma is astounding.

: My name is Etzel. I am a traveling sorcerer. Those Grustian cowards stole a ring from me, and were it not for you, I might never have seen it again.

: The ring must have been very dear to you, then.



His wife, Ursula, not to be confused with the other Fire Emblem Ursula, who is completely unrelated and on a different continent.


: Those were dark days. You have my deepest sympathies; I lost my father in the same battle.

: Will there be no end to this bloodshed?

: There will, Etzel. I have sworn to end it; that’s the very reason all of us fight.



Marth in a nutshell. (Shadow Dragon Marth, at least)

: But I can tell you are sincere. Tell me, Prince, have you any need for an extra…spell slinger? I’ve no taste for war, but I do have a fierce hunger for ending it. Let’s usher in a new era, you and I.

And, with that, Etzel joins the party.




Etzel’s not really great. His growths are decent to subpar, without any major stand outs. His base stats are also a little sketchy, but he does okay, especially on Normal. He’s better in the sequel.

Monocles are kinda cool though so I’m using him.

Bonus Content



Etzel’s Official Art