Part 34: Agile Arachnids
Chapter 6: Agile Arachnids![](1-0054000134.png)
![](2-Kyle.png)
![](3-Ephraim.png)
![](4-0054000248.png)
![](5-0054000917.png)
![](6-Eirika.png)
![](7-Novala.png)
![](6-Eirika.png)
![](7-Novala.png)
![](8-0054002189.png)
![](7-Novala.png)
![](9-VillageGirl.png)
![](7-Novala.png)
![](9-VillageGirl.png)
![](7-Novala.png)
![](9-VillageGirl.png)
![](10-0054005097.png)
Poor lass. I hope we can save her.
![](11-0054006566.png)
As you might expect, a fog of war map means Colm. We'll be advancing slowly and mostly letting the enemies come to us piecemeal, since we'll be easily overwhelmed otherwise.
![](12-0054006773.png)
It's good to have at least one capable unit around for situations like these.
![](13-0054010243.png)
Positioning is key for this. You might even call it trial and error.
![](14-0054010380.png)
Knowing which soldiers come from where is essential for weathering the initial wave. I would normally call that sort of thing a jerk move on the game's part, but as I mentioned in normal, there are forests to help.
![](15-0054010584.png)
Even so, I had a close shave there. Mercenaries are no laughing matter in hard mode, since they're hardier than myrmidons, but usually just as skillful.
![](16-0054010820.png)
Doesn't matter to Franz. He'll just get luckier.
![](17-0054011848.png)
I'm also using this map to whip Lute into shape. She's a bit behind, and needs to get her training in too.
![](18-0054012059.png)
Got the Antitoxin this time. Not that I'll use it.
![](19-0054012929.png)
The cavaliers up top are an issue. Due to the obstruction presented by the mountain tiles, they'll often come around the mountain two different ways, presenting a nasty pincer.
![](20-0054013590.png)
No levels here. I just wanted to illustrate how weak our thief of choice is right now.
![](21-0054016120.png)
By contrast, here's Franz tearing through some knights.
![](22-0054016572.png)
While Goofus here can't even scratch a cavalier.
![](23-0054017147.png)
Oh yes, and if you're comfortable hunkering down from the east side, here's another trio of cavaliers from the west, courtesy of hard mode.
![](24-0054018088.png)
I wouldn't normally have promoted units chew through base enemies, but we've got enough problems on the front line without being flanked like that.
![](25-0054018391.png)
Especially not these guys. They're using the basic iron, but they're still not worth trifling with.
![](26-0054018872.png)
Oh, Intelligent Systems.
![](27-0054018905.png)
Sometimes I feel like they're playing a joke on me.
![](28-0054019295.png)
Not the funny sort either.
![](29-0054020739.png)
Right, time for something daring (which is to say, stupid).
![](30-0054021177.png)
On the enemy phase, I nearly have a heart attack, but I shouldn't have been that worried. Even with effective damage, he's still got to hit me.
![](31-0054021735.png)
And jumping out into the open goes...
![](32-0054021848.png)
Surprisingly well for Eirika, given the hit rates.
![](33-0054022128.png)
And then Colm provides the punchline.
![](34-0054022220.png)
You may have noticed, but there are two healers on this map: a troubadour and a priest. They're both a tad obnoxious.
![](35-0054022465.png)
Vanessa would love to help, but she's got her own mission.
![](36-0054024914.png)
Besides, we can handle ourselves.
![](37-0054025163.png)
More or less.
![](38-0054027398.png)
At the very least, Joshua's his old self for this map.
![](39-0054027568.png)
Although he seems a tad confused about his class.
![](40-0054027983.png)
![](41-0054028169.png)
Oh, never mind. He was giving his growths to Eirika. How gentlemanly of him.
![](42-0054028771.png)
And the hits just keep on coming. We're thinning them out, though.
![](43-0054029418.png)
And Seth's got his corner in good shape.
![](44-0054031498.png)
Keep building up that magical power, Lute.
![](45-0054031668.png)
Colm can't even beat up a troubadour. That's...special.
![](46-0054032927.png)
Oh yes, our celebrity guest has arrived.
![](47-0054037626.png)
Not what you'd call the deadliest of beasts, but it's being assisted, dodge-wise, by the terrain it's on.
![](48-0054034372.png)
And the eastern segment is all cleared out.
![](49-0054034586.png)
But no magic.
![](50-0054035195.png)
Maybe I should just forget about combat entirely for Colm.
![](51-0054035404.png)
...Well, at least he's got more pickpocket. That's all that really matters.
![](52-0054035984.png)
Colm's feeble attempts at killing a holy man have revealed our boss.
![](53-(14012013_085333).png)
![](54-0054036034.png)
Novala's still as deadly as ever. We'd be in real trouble if we didn't have Seth with us.
![](55-0054037815.png)
So let's deal with this spider. We're pretty evenly matched, so it shouldn't be too big a problem.
![](56-0054037973.png)
![](57-0054038012.png)
![](58-0054038145.png)
...Right?
![](59-0054038351.png)
![](60-Vanessa.png)
![](61-0054038809.png)
Good thing I thought ahead for just this possibility.
![](62-0054039291.png)
Meanwhile, Garcia shows Colm how it's done.
![](63-0054039506.png)
Strength, Colm. That's the key.
![](64-0054040547.png)
Lute: matching a mage for damage using an inferior tome. There really is nobody better than her.
![](65-0054041970.png)
![](60-Vanessa.png)
![](66-0054042026.png)
That's one way to speed the process along.
![](67-0054042207.png)
And the girl's finally tired of screaming. Thank goodness for that.
![](68-0054042551.png)
With the spider almost dead, Vanessa scales down a bit and gets...
![](69-0054042801.png)
...
![](70-0054044936.png)
Right, let's get this over with.
![](71-0054045530.png)
Good to see that somebody's keeping himself strong.
![](72-0054045741.png)
![](6-Eirika.png)
![](73-Seth.png)
![](6-Eirika.png)
And for rescuing the family, we get an Orion's Bolt. Maybe I should start building up Neimi some more.
Next Time: The penultimate chapter of this act, and the gimmick is really large bows. Inspiring.
Total Resets: 20