Part 64: Chapter 4A (4)

Door slams.



And you have come to join him, I take it?









We don't get a chance to save after that last battle, but luckily this is a very easy battle. The Sin quota is lax and Fauxnel will chill out in the back waiting for you to get close. This is also the smallest map in the game.



The Carrion Wolves are the most common enemy here. They're pretty generic Wolf fare though, and if you've grabbed some decent armour (Duel Armor for mail-wearers, Anointed Cloaks or the Elfin Talfetta for clothies and Ushio), you should be fine.



I think this was a critical, but otherwise we're doing alright. I've actually forgotten to equip First Aid on everyone for a while now.



I actually equipped the Murasama for this fight to try it out and to get a feel of what having three attacks on Ushio would be like. It's not too bad (if you can use both launchers at the same time, you can get past it), but I'll probably stick with the Wodao till I get a much better weapon.



The Iron Golem is the only other enemy on the map that isn't Fauxnel or a Carrion Wolf. If you're using Lockswell you can shut it up with Suspend Motion, but if you're not, then Union Plumes or Cockatrice Eggs to get past its Stone-inducing beams.





The Golem is pretty sturdy, so it's unlikely you'll fell it in one combo and get 100 Sin unless you get a bunch of criticals or are boosting/weakening stats.





Hah! You're only making this harder on yourself!

I was a bit worried it would proceed to Stone someone but it's fazed. Hooray!









Doing well, doing well.



Wolves' tendency to Faze is annoying, but really it's not as bad as some of the other monster groups out there.





And now for the fourth and last wolf.





There are a few ways to make Fauxnel utterly trivial, but the easiest is if you got the Elfin Talfetta in Chapter III. It reduces the damage from Earth attacks by 90%, weakening Faunxel's Poison Blow and Maleficent Harm moves to miniscule levels.

Incidentally, Ushio can wear it. How devilishly nice.



Jerkface.



So you think you're clever, do you, Fauxnel?



Well then, prepare your anus.









I think this is only fitting.





This was most certainly not... in my plans...







Nothing particularly amazing - Magic Mail is okay but otherwise the best stuff is in the 100% - we can't make use of Ether Gloves in our main party so one of our Sorcerers will get them, and 90,000 exp from the Expert's Experiences will probably be useful at some point.

---



Oh, you slay me... quite literally, I'm afraid.

That is precisely why I had to stop Valmur! How was I to know the coward would refuse to wage war even after I had his brother killed?

Even knowing you had wronged him, Valmur sympathized with your plight, yet still you defame him. Have you no shame?

Valmur sympathized with my plight? It is you who are shamed, dear boy.



...



As my clan collapsed, House Haughn forsook us entirely. What you witnessed was not sympathy, but remorse.

It gives you no right to take his life!

Right be damned if it means my house's redemption! 'Twas no different with Rosea and Lieselotte...

It was your doing!



See, this is one of those instances where I get annoyed that characters don't get lines after they've been recruited. This part doesn't feel right without Ushio angrily cutting in.

Lamentable losses to be sure, but their sacrifices served a greater cause, as shall Valmur's.

Amid war's tumult rise and fall many a clan. Once House Haughn allows this war to begin, my redemption shall be at hand.

And so you see, I had no choice but to remove the peace-loving Valmur.

And it matters not he was your friend?

I would not say that.



The rift between the princes runs deep through Artolia, the kingdom growing further divided by the day.

Only war could cure this malaise, and unite the people under a single ruler. This Valmur could not see.

Were he still among us, I have no doubt he would agree.



That's nice, now let us chop off your head and be on our merry- wait what

That is quite generous of you.

But this you must promise me - a prompt end to the war.

I believe that can be arranged, Sir Wylfred.







---



A noble ancestry that stood for generations brought to an unceremonious end by this insufferable feud.

Where shall Your Lordship fare?



Begging Your Lordship's pardon, I must question whether a visit to the count is advisable.

Joshua is fourth in the line of the blood royal, beneath the two princes and his own father. His claim shall be our rally cry for peace.

A bold endeavor...



And now I lack the means to solve this by diplomacy. The princes will pay me no heed. We must turn elsewhere.

The time has come to fulfill the duty I owe my kingdom... And the loyalty I owe my former king.

Aye, sire!



Age: 25
Gender: Male
Homeland: Artolia
Height: 177cm
Weight: 63kg

Artolian court magus who has assumed the position of the court archimagus in absentia, granting him temporary rule over all palace sorcerers. A former colleague of both Rosea and Lieselotte, Fauxnel was said to be intimately involved in the mysterious death of Sir Cennair, for which the two were banished.





Fauxnel official render.