Part 8: Avan Gets Attacked By A 13 Year Old

Update 8: Avan Gets Attacked By A 13 Year Old

Last time on Taxi!, our Taxi! nearly killed our engineer through wanton disregard for her resistance to bullets (that is, none). Oh, and we were getting stalked or something too.



Regardless, we've got story to see!



Music: Everyday Life of the Class





You already lost Avan's bird? It's been like, one day- are you sure he just didn't bail on all of us?

Would you believe this is a major plot event?

: Guess I'm not the only one who gets lost on this campus.
: If he is lost, he must be frightened. Will you help us look for him?
: Yeah, I bet he'd come if you called him!
: All right, I'm on it. Heh, so much for those amazing homing instincts.

To be fair, Lanseal looks confusing as hell from the bird's eye view we get on the map. If the room layout is as bad as some I've seen, the place is probably a nightmare to navigate.

I'd say a bird wouldn't need to care as much, but they are prone to not understanding windows.




*A bird tweets in the distance*

: That sounds like Jarde! It's coming from that direction.

Sorry, Avan. That might take you a turn or two with your shocktrooper's AP. It might be better to send Magari.




*Another bird call*



*Yet another bird twitter*




Person, you're going to break that bird if you keep doing that. Also, how does this even work in first place?

*Stretching noises, more bird tweets*

: Jarde?!

*Stretching noises, even more twittering*

Listen, I thought this game was rated T. I don't think medieval torture methods qualifies as a T rating.

: Hey, what gives, man?! Let him go!



Well, that's a strange image, especially without context.







*He gives out an impressive cry of pain*



Riveting dialogue, as always. This is kinda funny to me, probably just because it's Avan this is happening to.

: What's your deal? If you want a fight, you got one!


: Huh?


I don't really get this robe design, but I suppose that's not important.


: Nothing. I just came here looking for my bird, lady.
: You're back, Mama! Did you finish your errand?
: I did, though it went 18 minutes over schedule.


: Uhh, okay?


: What? You little brat!


I find it interesting that Avan, of all people, picks up on something in this cutscene that few other characters will for quite some time. Well, at least from what I remember.

It's also a spoiler, so I can't tell you what yet. Though, if you've played VC1, you probably already have an idea of what it is.




--


What, you thought we were free of story events?

--




Music: Faint Youth


: I never thought they'd send cadets off into the field!

Game, don't remind me that you're trying to have a serious plot.

: How did you do it? What was in your head as you fought?


You thought we were free of the book, didn't you? There is no escaping the book!

Also, isn't the best advice for a military squad leader. This is Avan's standard operating procedure, as well, so...

: Works for me. I was never good with thinking anyway. Okay, let's get to work!



: His quotes? Is that what that notebook is?

This cutscene is simply here to remind you about the book and how you got here in the first place, but nothing else.

: Yup. I wrote down every bit of advice he ever gave me.

Which is to say, Leon was spouting out inspirational quotes like an HR manager all the time. I feel like this would be better done if he had remembered these quotes and had flashbacks to moments with Leon where he heard them, instead of constantly referring to this personal self-help book. Yeah, that's been done before, but it works because it would give us some actual characterization of Leon and a reason to actually feel involved with their relationship.

I'm not spoiling anything by saying that this main driving point of the plot does finally bear fruit, but it comes out incredibly lackluster and without weight to me because Leon is never given any depth or anything to relate to.

Who knows, it might actually make Avan interesting.


This still doesn't tell us anything, really. Leon's still basically a non-entity and all we know is that he was "the bestest".

: I see. You really do feel a great deal of respect for him, don't you?
: Heh, you could say that. So, you knew him, right?
: What was he like? Here at the academy, I mean.


: He was a star performer at the Laevatein Cup. His squad adored him.
: Last year, he used a decoy tactic, then ran in solo to take the enemy's camp.

What? You thought you were going to get any characterization of substance?


This is the only new thing we know about Leon: he wasn't immediately popular at the school. He was still absolutely amazing, it just took a little while for people to join the fan club.

: Wow, he never told me about that. That's awesome!
: Lanseal has many talented cadets, but Leon was... special. Too special.
: Do, uh... Do you know anything about this "special mission"?


This right here is the only bit of actual development on this plot thread that we're getting.


: I figure if I can find out more about that mission, I might learn what happened.
: I'm afraid I don't know anything.
: Of course, even if I did, all that happens here is classified for security.
: Even as a cadet, you don't have clearance to know much.

Yep, this is code for we won't hear anything about this for a long time.


: Oof...
: Just so you know, I'm serious about Class G winning that Laevatein Cup.
: I expect the other classes may not agree. This is no easy competition Avan.


Yeah, whatever. They're not actually that bad.


"I drank water without a cup. That was annoying."

If you get the reference, congratulations. I also don't know why I made it, it just felt appropriate.

: Heh heh. I'll be sure to clear my calendar.



--

Music: Winter in Lanseal

Finally. Let's go take care a few chores then move on to doing a mission. I'm going to try and cut the length of these updates down by about 40 or so screenshots, so let's see what we get into.


First up, I'm buying the lamp part for the tank. This is just one of many pieces of equipment that nullfies a certain area effect, i this case it negates the effects of nighttime for our team.


I level up scouts and troopers again. I try to do levels in intervals of 5, so when these two are done, I'll cap off techs next then engineers. Lancers are usually fine enough without too much experience investment.


We've got a lot of missions to do, and I'm going to do all of them, (minus the multiplayer ones,) before I progress to the next month.


As you can see, the game does not wait a second to remind us of how strong promoted units will be. We're already going up against snipers on some missions.


I'm going to go ahead and clear this skirmish out for now, since it won't be too difficult and I can try to prompt more character events to show.


This map makes use of the 3 areas we've already seen, with the final point being in the warehouse. I deploy my full six for no particular reason, but it'll be pretty easy to beat this mission fast regardless.



Player Turn Music: Liberation Battle
Enemy Turn Music: Return Battle



I waste no time using the usual strategy for this map. Avan scouts first, Marion follows, double team shocktroopers plow through everything.



There's a guy out in the distance, but he's no threat. While I move ahead, I go and take this trooper out before he causes issues.



Quickly burning through AP, I take Marion and follow Avan's steps forward.


She doesn't get much farther, but it's still good to play safe when there's bound to be enemies in our way.


: "Enemy sighted!"

There's a single scout defending their camp in this corner. Somehow, I don't have a screenshot of it, so you'll just have to believe me.

Enemy Radio: "They're not getting past us- stomp 'em dead!"


Unfortunately for the enemy scout, crouching does nothing in the face of Marion's gun.


This is probably the first we've seen of our tank, and I'm not likely to be using it this mission anyways. Unfortunately, the tank is only so good right now, and it's 2 CP cost is hindering given that it's not all that powerful yet.



: "Good."

Just clearing out enemies.



: "Moving out."


I've probably already showed this before, but the faster method across this map is up this ladder and into the silo/building.


: "I see you..."

So begins the enemy's habit of hiding an enemy in the grass just feet from your base. If you left your base open for even a turn, they'd run in and cap your flag in a heartbeat. I brought Mischlitt to stand in place there and prevent the enemy from trying that cheating stuff on me.



There was a scout hiding up here, so Melissa takes him down as she moves along.


The flag's just around this corner.


So I take a risky chance and hope Melissa can one-round the shocktrooper standing there.



...Damn it. I expected this to happen.



: "It- it hurts..."

That was a mistake. Sorry Melissa.


The enemy retaliates by wasting time attacking a crouched Helmut.


He even takes the fool down from a distance.


...And that's all they do, apparently.


Time for Helmut to go in on a rescue mission.


I waste a bit of AP moving to the backside fo the trooper, but I don't want to take any more chances that I could miss and lose another unit.

: "I don't miss."


He doesn't.


This is my flag now!


...And I run out of AP inches from Melissa.


: "MEDIC! Hurry, there's no time!"

Helmut yells this very convincingly, though Melissa would be fine in a few rounds.


: *On radio* "Expand control of the field."

On it Brixy. I told you he actualy talks over the radio.


Yeah, I can do this. 3 CP and either vantage point is more than enough. I'm still opting for the one in the upper right, because it's bound to have less enemies facing it.


: "Sure, dude!"

See what I mean about placing an enemy right at the flag so they can recapture?


Of course he's laying down.


So I take the obvious choice.


: "What even is that, dude?!"

Not really a problem given she triggered Evasion Boost right at the start.


: "Found one!"

Enemy Radio: "Just spotted another customer..."

I don't opt to do anything here, given that a Gallian-1 won't do jack at this range.


I can make this work, I think.


You can just lie down for a little while though. I don't want to have to re-cap this base if I can't get the flag this round.


I'm just going to hide Lotte behind Marion because there's no way possible. (Should've used Helmut.)


She lands one headshot, nothing else...


...Before hiding behind Marion.



This turns out to be a profitable plan as the enemy immediately moves in on the two girls. This dimwit tries to take Marion, though, and gets the expected result.


3 Turns is still and A, so I'll settle for it, I guess.


Because I've used Marion so much, she's developed a new class based potential. These trigger based on how often you use a unit, and which list they pull from is different for every character and dependent on their class.

Some characters, like Marion, benefit more from ones obtained in later promotions, while others, such as Anisette, get some of their best in their earliest class. Marion got one that sounds good in theory, but ends up kinda useless for shocktroopers.

Clear Shot triggers when enemies are in sight, but far away, triggering a damage and accuracy boost. Unfortunately, this boost is lost on getting too close to enemies. It's a lot better to have on other classes.


I take the easy way out and shoot this scout.


: "Please, allow me!"


Maxed out Morale just as I capped this. There wasn't anything immediately visible in the room for more credit gathering, so I ended it. This update's gone on long enough for my new limit.


What a shame, I missed out on 40 exp and 10 DCT. The reward for no fallen units is basically nothing.



Yep, we're gonna see some events now. That'll have to wait until next time, unfortunately. Cutting the updates at about 100 screenshots is plenty, and will let me put them out 30% faster, in theory.

To make up for it, have these character bios and newspapers.

Next time on Everybody Loves Leon, you get to see some of those character events I keep promising!

Extras:

Gallia Times



Lotte Insider


Why did Raymond subsitute for us? Did this happen before we got here or something?

Clementia Foerster

Age: 39
A woman in white who always seems to be with Aliasse. Seems to be a scientist, but the details are not clear.

Aliasse

Age: 13
Mysterious girl clothed in black, background unknown. She speaks and behaves strangely.