Part 56: Chapter 3A (1)

It seems hardly the time, Ailyth. What warrants my return now?

I am afraid sire's mother has grown ill. Her caretaker grows worried.

How do you know this?

The winds of Niflheim whisper much that cannot be seen.

I heed their tidings so that you need tend only to battle.



---





I have been remiss.

Your mother's taken a turn for the worse. Nothing I say or do can console her.

Who goes there?

Do you not recognize me?



...

At last, you've returned to me! I knew you would. An eternity I have waited!



Of course.

...

Thyodor, you mustn't leave me. I grow terribly lonely when you're away.

Promise never to leave me alone again... Not without children to keep me company.

You needn't worry.

I am here beside you now. You are tired, and must rest.

I will... my dear...

---



She has since Elsie passed. Unable to cope with the grief, Mother's mind fled to the time when she was happiest.

Now she is locked in the memory of her maidenhood, and oblivious to the days since... as though Elsie and I were never born.

So unbearable was her suffering... You mustn't blame her for wanting to escape.

But then, who is to blame for such things?



Come. We have work ahead.

Will you not call on Tilte before going?

I had best not, for both her sake and mine.

As you say, Master.

---





However, I know of no other on whom I could rely to rescue the royal house from the brink of schism.



ex·i·gen·cy
1. exigent state or character; urgency.

It is clear why the people laud you as a saintess, Rosea.

You flatter me, sire.

As we speak, the ascension dispute between the athelings grows most dire.

ath·el·ing
a man of royal blood; a prince.

The elder Langrey has issued a declaration of war upon young Kristoff for the throne.



And thus we come full cycle. I don't know, this was one of the Ye Olde English bits that really stuck out for me.

Needless to say, we cannot permit war. The brothers must be stopped, no matter the cost.

I am told of manipulative advisors who bend the kind-hearted Kristoff to their will-



Our royal chambers are infested with traitorous vermin driven by greed.

I therefore place my missive to Kristoff in your good hands. Go forth, Rosea, and stop this war before it is too late.



Our fate depends on it. Godspeed.

---



The villagers fear for the safety of their village, and the demons are drawn to the smell.

...And thus their fears are realized.





Seems a bit many to have all to yourself. Mind if I take some?

Mind? ...Not at all.



Well that might have been record for a new Guest. Let's see what we've got!



Our last unique member in the main game, Ushio is the only representative of the Samurai class. He has a movement of five, but unlike Natalia and Auguste, Ushio actually can attack diagonally, like a Swordsman or Warrior. He also has balanced stats and quite high AVD, making him essentially a more mobile Swordsman. He begins with three attacks and no Soul Crush, but his default weapon gives him increased damage to fishes and lizardmen.



Equipment wise, it's kind of odd. Ushio uses katanas as his weapon and light armour like a Sorcerer or Archer, but wears metal gloves and greaves like a Warrior or Lancer. Slightly bafflingly, he can't wear head armour. Maybe he wants to keep that hair slicked back? The Kinagashi (65 RDM, 15 AVD) is also unigue to him.



Somewhat frustratingly, Ushio's attacks are awkward at best and cumbersome at worst. His damage is actually quite good, with his multipliers being on par with Phiona's, but stringing his attacks together is tricky. Flashblade is strong and Shadowslash is unblockable, but both are slow to execute out of sieges and Shadowslash has a low hitbox. Steelwing is his major drawback, as it launches high and fast, making it difficult to follow up on. Even Frigid Damsel might miss unless you juggle the opponent quickly after it. He has potential, but it needs to be carefully worked with.



Finally, Ushio has our last siege technique. Virtuousity lowers his blocking rate, which isn't a major deal, and increases the activation rate of abilities. This includes those such as:

• Enlightenment
  
• Fists of Iron
  
• Body of Steel
  
• Resist Magic
  
• First Aid
  
• Grave Blessing
  
• Survival
  
• Magic Mail

So it's actually a decent list, it's just hard to quantify how good it is because you never know if an ability activating would be because of Virtuousity or not. The first four can't happen concurrently, so only one of those will activate at any given point. Long story short, there's really no harm in keeping it on.



I would show off Mischka, but we still don't have any good weapons for him as Aullewyn Keep is the only Chapter II scenario where we don't get the Elemental Edge. Next time though.





A short and easy battle with only four enemies. The rest of this chapter is a pain and a half, so don't get too comfortable.



There are two Hellhounds right in front, with a Lizard Man and a Fire Bat waiting on the roof, docile.



Let's see what you can do.



Never met a foe I couldn't cut!



I got a little lucky with this one, but Ushio also having a launcher in an awkward position is tricky. The best thing one can really do is to either time Wylfred's Double Cross to juggle with it, or use a combination of Wylfred's Open Slash and Ushio's Flashblade to keep it in place long enough for Frigid Damsel to hit just as Ushio launches it.





Windburn is pretty good for gems.



A moment of pain, for an eternity of rest...







My mind is made up! You must die!



Sometimes sieges are bad because the rhythm you had for juggling attacks is suddenly thrown off.





Windburn is also pretty good for crystals. Its range isn't amazing but one can time it with Double Cross to hold the enemy in place.



I try to have Lockswell lure the bat down and he ends up freezing it instead. Whoops. It is weak to Ice, incidentally.



Better.



The Lizard Man does hit quite hard but it's still manageable.







Sin quota sounds tricky with 340 Sin for 200% and four enemies but considering Aullewyn Keep it's actually a breather.



Well the bat isn't going anywhere for a while so we might as well go to it.





Valmur? Auguste? Pssh, we can get crystals without them.





Transposition is the only thing of real use here. Elixirs are nice but that's it really.

---



The legends tell of masterful Yamato swordsmen, yet I see now they do not begin to do you justice.

Kind of you to say. While we are mincing words, perhaps you can tell me where I might find the one called Rosea.

Rosea?

The Artolian people call her "Saintess," and she is worshipped and adored the kingdom over.



I bear this woman no love. My master's blood is on her hands, and so shall hers be on mine.

You say this "saintess" murdered your master?



Soon after I set forth on my sword's journey, the master was taken from me - murdered at the royal court.

And this Rosea you seek was responsible?

Aye. And when I reap my revenge, she will beg for death.



It is hard to say. Something in your eyes told me I should want to befriend you.

I recognized them from those I see in the mirror - eyes that seek vengeance.

You see much.



Age: 19
Gender: Male
Homeland: Wakoku
Height: 175cm
Weight: 67kg

Native to a distant land who washed ashore on Artolian soil as a child after his ship was lost to a storm at sea. There he was rescued by the court archimagus Cennair, who had merely gone to survey the area. Relations did not at that time exist between Artolia and the Yamato, and so there was no way to return Ushio to his homeland. Sir Cennair successfully convinced all involved that the boy's welfare would best be served if he himself were to raise him, and so it came to pass.

On reaching his fifteenth year, per Yamato tradtion, Ushio left Sir Cennair's ward to set forth on a swordwalk.





Ushio official render.

Next time: the most infamous map in the game?