Part 45: The Empire Strikes (aka Remorse and Retaliation) - Part 2

Last time, Dorias lead an assault on the Empire. He fucked up royally, and now he's dead and our forces are scattered to the wind. We need to regroup and escape. And by that, I mean kill every single enemy and all the reinforcements and then escape because the game says we need to.

---



(Player/NPC phase)

(Enemy phase)



Our forces end up divided like so. Marita, Makua, Carrion, Nanna, Olwen, Linoan, Sara, Miranda and Dean are at the front lines, and Seram, Asvel, Ralph, Xavier, Homer, Tina, Karin, Lara, and Marty are stuck way back, hanging out with Leaf. And that guy sucks.



To start us off, Seram silences Wolf. Probably not strictly necessary, although it will let us get around his Meteor tome. Why I really did this is that it lets Seram hit an A in staves, letting him do this.



This being warp to the village in the most immediate danger. We can only save one of the villages without some luck, but since they only have a Silver Sword and a Killer Lance, it's hardly a tragedy if you lost out on one.



By luck, I mean if Dean can get a movement star as he chases down the thief. He doesn't, although he will get one more chance next turn.





13 defense. That's normal. Let's go for twenty I say!



The hardest part of this map is the first enemy phase. Your southern group is going to get charged by all of the Knights hanging about. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for Conomore. You have to get Miranda close enough to Conomore that she can recruit him, but not so close that she can be killed. You also have to hope that Conomore has room to attack one of your units from a range, that he doesn't kill the unit he attacks, or that he doesn't proc a movement star and weave his way through your units to murder Miranda because he is not a clever man. Accidentally killing Conomore is probably the most likely.

Anyways, we form up as shown. Carion's holding the King Sword, and Olwen isn't in anybody's range. Linoan bails because I don't like her chances.



These guys will keep spawning for a while. They won't attack you, but they will try to destroy the villages, so you have to stop them on your phase. I guess they think you won't notice them if they don't attack you. Even if you're killing them. Those rascals, trying to murder and pillage .

Next, Sara starts getting rushed by the Mage Knights surrounding Amalda.





[Sara: Lv. 2, Hp: 30, Str: 6, Mgc: 20, Skl: 20, Spd: 20, Luk: 16, Def: 14, Bld: 8]

[Sara: Lv. 3, Hp: 31, Str: 6, Mgc: 20, Skl: 20, Spd: 20, Luk: 16, Def: 14, Bld: 8]

They're level 14 promoted, so they're worth a lot of experience. Since Sara has all the cool-kid scrolls, she gets some more defense.



A bunch of troubadours realizing attacking Sara is probably a terrible idea, and so they just congregate around her. Maybe they're trying to pay homage? Not that that'll save them.

She also gets attacked by one of Conomore's Cavaliers, but he lives.





On the other side, Makua and Marita take the brunt of the enemy assault.



Conomore doesn't kill himself, which is nice for everybody.





Linoan gets a shit level from healing Sara from afar.



[Sara: Lv. 4, Hp: 32, Str: 6, Mgc: 20, Skl: 20, Spd: 20, Luk: 16, Def: 14, Bld: 8]

---





I was rescued by Prince Leaf. He tried to save Alster for me...and he lost many of his troops and a close advisor. But what are you doing! You have Alster's elite troops, and yet you tag along behind the Empire?
Yes... Forgive me, my lady...
Our enemy is not Lenster. The Empire is our hated foe. Command your troops to aid the Lenster Army's escape! Alster will now join the Northern Thracian Liberation Army under the command of Prince Leaf!
Yes, my lady. Reporting to all troops! We are now joining the Liberation Army. Aid their escape with all your strength! We will go under the protection of Lenster until we recapture Alster. This is a direct order from Princess Miranda herself!

I like how direct Miranda is here. No long winded speeches necessary to convince him, just "seriously Conomore, the fuck? Stop being a dumb-ass."

Anyways, imagine we had Sleuf and had talked to Amalda instead...

Lady Amalda, please withdraw your blade. It is me, Sleuf.
Father Sleuf... What are you doing here?
I have come for you, my lady. The Liberation Army is waiting for you.

He's pretty smooth.

Are you telling me to betray my country? I can't do that, Father Sleuf... I wouldn't be suffering like this if I could.
Lady Amalda, a nation isn't the personal property of the king and nobility. If they have been misled, it is the knight's duty to see to it that their paths be corrected. Are you going to let your country do wrong for fear of being labeled a traitor?
No... But when I think about what will happen to my troops...
...You are a kind lady. However, what they do is up to them. You should follow your own heart more freely.
...Very well, Father Sleuf. I will join the Liberation Army. I will rescue the kidnapped children! That is my only wish!

---



And now all of Conomore's surviving men become allied NPC units. Will they help us mow down the enemy ranks? No, they will kill the brigands. And nothing more. I hate them. They actually provide a good distraction, and stop you from having to take care of the brigands, but it's the principle of thing. Except for when they try and capture the brigands. There's no excuse for that shit.



Conomore takes Miranda and runs.





Carion attacks one of the Troubadours, and misses the coup de grace. I hate these troubadours. They have Prayer and 16 luck, so you literally can't have more than a 52% chance of killing them. It feels more like 95%. I hate them. They're also really fast, Sara can't double them because of her weapons' weights.







Makua gets healed from afar, and makes the kill.

Meanwhile, our other people do things.



Dean kills one of the thieves strewn about. Not the one we'd need to save both the Silver Sword and the Killer Lance though.

[Dean: Lv. 6, Hp: 39, Str: 15, Mgc: 2, Skl: 15, Spd: 13, Luk: 7, Def: 13, Bld: 13] Pretty good, Luck is nice for Dean.

Karin makes for a village.

---



We really need Heal staffs, so this is great.

---





The reinforcement start. Until turn 25, two Axe Knights and a Great Knight will appear every turn. The Axe Knights all have hammers, because y'now. You went through so much bullshit to get Xavier, god forbid you get a chance to use him. The Great Knight has a Halberd, so no one's safe. He's also worth a shitload of EXP, because he's around level 16 promoted.



The enemies spend their time killing the NPCs.



The NPCs fight back. Against those brigands over there. Why are you trying to capture them I hate you.







Damn



Crap.



Oh come the fuck on.



[Olwen: Lv. 6, Hp: 27, Str: 8, Mgc: 13, Skl: 15, Spd: 14, Luk: 8, Def: 8, Bld: 6]



Long ranged heals are the best kind of heals.

---





Sadly, as you can see, the thieves have looted the other village. No Silver Sword for us.

---





They'll reach us some day.

---



No I hate free stuff.



And I especially hate free good stuff.

---





[Sara: Lv. 5, Hp: 33, Str: 6, Mgc: 20, Skl: 20, Spd: 20, Luk: 16, Def: 15, Bld: 8]



oh god that has to hurt

Withdraw your blade! There is no need to die for nothing!





Man you suck. Just join us.







[Sara: Lv. 6, Hp: 34, Str: 6, Mgc: 20, Skl: 20, Spd: 20, Luk: 16, Def: 16, Bld: 9 Oh you and your 16 defense





With this, we simultaneously kill the last of the fucking troubadors, and set up a Charisma zone using Nanna and Carrion so that we may never be hit.



Dean and Olwen kill some stragglers (a thief and a bandit).

[Sara: Lv. 7, Hp: 34, Str: 6, Mgc: 20, Skl: 20, Spd: 20, Luk: 16, Def: 17, Bld: 9] That sure is 17 defense.



Alright, screw it. I've been afraid of doing this, but I'm just going to give Olwen every scroll and let her let loose with Daim Thunder. I dismount her so she doesn't instantly die from the halberds if she misses.



Meanwhile, Dean kills another thief and moves on top of a village.



Now some new reinforcements show up. This time we have an Arch Knight with a Great Bow, a Lance Knight with a javelin, and a Mage Knight with Thunder. The Mage Knight is another experience treasure trove, and just like the Great Knight, we get one per turn until turn 25. You're supposed to run by the way. We're just too cool for that.



Rather than be cool and attack Olwen, the Great Knight goes around her and attacks Nanna.

[Nanna: Lv. 8, Hp: 34, Str: 14, Mgc: 12, Skl: 17, Spd: 20, Luk: 20, Def: 10, Bld: 8] Well that sucks.



I eventually decide to have Nanna and Carion back off so that they don't pull the enemy's attention away from Olwen. She'll be dropped down to around a 95% hit rather then a 99% chance, but she'll actually get the kills.







That she does.

[Olwen: Lv. 7, Hp: 28, Str: 8, Mgc: 14, Skl: 14, Spd: 14, Luk: 9, Def: 8, Bld: 6]

[Olwen: Lv. 8, Hp: 29, Str: 9, Mgc: 14, Skl: 15, Spd: 14, Luk: 10, Def: 9, Bld: 7]

[Olwen: Lv. 9, Hp: 30, Str: 10, Mgc: 15, Skl: 16, Spd: 14, Luk: 10, Def: 9, Bld: 7]

I like what I see here.



Daim Thunder breaks, so Olwen retreats and our main force takes their place. Now here's the deal. What happens is that I have Makua, Marty, Marita, Olwen, Carrion, Sara and Nanna fight off reinforcement for around twenty more turns, taking advantage of Charisma to not get hit, and passing scrolls like they're hot. We level up a lot, and nothing interesting happens. So, time skip time.



And here's what we got out of things.



In a lot of ways, Olwen has always been held back by being Olwen. She gets great weapons, but she's not a great unit herself. Except now she is. I'm looking forward to getting the second Daim Thunder/her unique sword. Also goddamn 19 strength. Why yes, she did get 9 points of strength in 6 levels.



Marty didn't level up that much. His skill is nearly capped now, and he's kindly showing off that the HP cap in Thracia is 80.



6 20's everyday.



And I used to be worried about Makua. She has the weapon rank to use Steel Axes now, and the Build to only suffer a 1 AS penalty.



More defense and more HP, and one more precious point of build. While her build does suck, Marita has so many ways to kill someone she can take on nearly anyone with an Iron sword.



ahahahaha yes



I don't know how Nanna became my highest leveled unit, but I'm okay with it. I'm tempted to use one of the repair charges we've been hording on her Earth Sword to make her invincible for a chapter or two.



Homer's finally promotion ready. He leveled once or twice from killing stragglers who made it past the main murder group.



Karin also did some straggler killing, but didn't level much beyond that. The Great Bow wielding Arch Knights made it so she couldn't fight with the main group.

Now that we've got that done, let's go and take down Wolf and his crew.



To start, Marty baits out the ballistas. Ballista baiting is never a great strategy here because it builds up fatigue like crazy, but that ship sailed long ago.



Next Carion and Nanna charge forward.



It misses, but if it had, Nanna has restore.





Gonna sleep some mofo's with long range magic.











And that's our second long-range tome.



Next, Olwen kills both of the surviving generals and starts on the boss.

Do you wish to fall before my blade as well?



Gwah...! How...could I..

It literally takes forever due to bad luck and his vulneraries, but he finally goes down.

Before we go, we have a lot of villages to hit up.

---



Hey fuck you buddy.



Never mind, you're alright.





















---

Lastly, there are two troubadours with nothing but heals staffs left on the map. We steal both with Lara.



Let's move we need to get out of here!

Oh god we forgot Ralph but there's no time!

..wait a minute





There's no time we have to leave him!

---





This isn't the time for that, Lord Leaf. You can apologize to Count Dorias all you want, after we defend Lenster from the Empire.
Yes...
Don't look like that, we have good news as well. I hear that a large rebellion has erupted in the east in Isaac, and that they are fighting well against the Empire. Do you know who the leader of the rebels is?
Prince Shanan of Isaac, right? Fin told me about him. He's an honorable man, skilled with his sword and loved by his people. What a difference from me..."
Yes, Prince Shanan is with them. But their leader is someone else.
What?
Lord Celice of Chalphy... The Isaacians call him the 'Child of Light.'

Alright, so one of the last plot twists of Gen 1 of FE4 is about to be spoiled. You may have inferred it by now, but if not, you may want to skip ahead.

Lord Celice!? ...Really?
Yes. Ah, Lord Celice's father was your uncle. Lord Sigurd... He was called a villain just a decade ago, but now he's quite popular. He recognized the schemes of the Emperor before anyone else, and died fighting to protect the world. Bards spread his story far and wide, and now he's become a legendary hero. And his son, Lord Celice, is fighting to fulfill his father's wishes... The people are overjoyed. They wouldn't hesitate to give their lives to his cause. It's the perfect scenario.

Alright, stop skipping.

...What are you trying to say?
What I'm saying is that Lord Celice didn't earn his fame on his own. The times require a hero, and someone is setting him up to be one. Heroes aren't born, Lord Leaf. They are made.
Does that mean I was made by you?"
Think what you will. ...But I will say this. Count Dorias lost his arm to protect you in the past. And now he has lost his life to save yours. Why did this happen? Why are you being kept alive to that extent? Why are you being called a hero at all? Think about that, Lord Leaf...

I like this conversation. I remember not paying much attention to Thracia's plot before, but I kind of regret it now. It's got a pretty unique feel among Fire Emblem's, it's a lot more low key and gritty for a lack of a better word. It suffers a little bit from being forced into FE4's mostly black and white morality (not that there's anything wrong with that, FE4 just has a different tone then FE5), I'd be interested in seeing what the writer could have done in a more morally ambiguous scenario. What I'm saying is I want Matsuno to write a FE game.

---



We were thinking that we would give you this Knight's Proof as a symbol of our gratitude...
Very well. I will give it to the prince.
Thank you.

Saving them really isn't that hard, as you may have noticed, no one wanted to attack them. But they need to escape from the map if you want to get the reward, so it's more a matter of staying on the map long enough for them to escape.

---

New Recruits:

Conomore:



Level. 13

Hp: 39 (70%) Spd: 11 (50%)
Str: 13 (60%) Lck: 4 (2%)
Mag: 3 (5%) Def: 12 (20%)
Skl: 18 (35%) Bld: 13 (5%)
Mov: 10 (1%)

Class: Paladin Weapon Ranks: A (Lances), A (Swords) Movement stars: 1 Skills: Charge PCC: 2

Conomore is the B-route's recuit for this map, and he's alright. His speed is bad, and his skill is way too high, and his luck sucks, but he probably won't die if you field him and don't rely too much on him. He also has a leadership star, so he may come in handy if you have a lot of vacant spots.

---

Amalda:



Level. 6

Hp: 34 (70%) Spd: 15 (45%)
Str: 8 (55%) Lck: 11 (60%)
Mag: 13 (15%) Def: 9 (25%)
Skl: 11 (50%) Bld: 8 (15%)
Mov: 10 (1%)

Class: Paladin Weapon Ranks: A (Swords), C (Staves) Movement stars: 1 Skills: Continue PCC: 2

Amalda is the A-route recruit, and is probably the better choice. She has speed and luck so she'll dodge better than Conomore, and at the same level her durabiltiy is around the same. She also has more levels to scroll abuse, and can make a good replacement for Nanna if she doesn't turn out or if she's fatigued. She's still not great, but she'll do in a pinch, and brings a leadership star to the table as well.

---

Current Resets: 42 45

Next time on Thracia 776: Family reunion (the good kind, not the Fire Emblem kind). Also my entire army is pretty much fatigued.