Next map is another big ones. Thankfully, way less towns than the previous one. Shangrila is also the only flying island we can reach without using a chaos gate, or Brunhilde.
Scene 15: The Cloud City
This map
◊ is straight forward. Easy too. Sending units to most of the towns around the map. All simple.
Shellmat gets me XII: Hanged Man.
Our first treasure is an Ice Bandana (Fire -8 resistance, cold +9). Ohiten gets me another XII: Hanged Man. Renril meets a neutral unit, a Cherub, whom I recruit. Grell Nish gets me XIII: Death, both towns have the same kind of talking, people whining about how war has come to Shangrila. In Montrosa I get IV: Emperor, and we meet Yulia again.
Slust also meets a Cherubim for me to recruit. Motahn gets me another XII: Hanged Man... Are they giving them out in bulk?
The second buried treasure is yet another plate of neil. We being encountering the enemy units, and this level, well, the terrain's ease makes up for the units. First is an evil one with two tiamats, all in the back row, where the tiamats use Gares' Evil Dead as their breath weapons. Opposing them is one of my new units composed of a Paladin, Gold Dragon, and Doll master.
Rushelm gets us VII: Chariot. I meet more enemies, and they are deadly. 2 Samurai Masters with 2 Evil ones or a Mage with two Wyverns tanking for him... Problem comes from the fact that enemies run the gamut from level 10 to level 18. Mushatl gets me XXI: World.
Canopus' cleric levels up fighting a Ninja Master and 4 Phantoms, becoming my first monk! Sadly I am forced to use my world card, leaving me without one to face the boss. This is gonna suck. Especially as I free Interaken and get XX: Judgement and hear the following rumor.
On a squad of two demons and 3 cherubim I find an undead staff, earning me another Sorcerer. A squad of an evil one with two tiamats land Destin a "Heal All" while a squad of a mage and two titans give Lans and Tristan an undead ring, meaning a second lich for me! Lans' shaman and Valkyrie both become a Muse and a monk.
Since Gares has dialogue for both Rauny and Tristan, I pick Tristan this time. Both because it's his turn, and because Lans' unit is much more powerful, meaning that they stand a better chance to win despite their lack of a world card. I give Lans Brunhild to be sure.
Gares has traded off his black dragons for two Red Dragon II. He's also got some new threads. I go all out on him, because his Evil Dead is more dangerous than ever. First the white magic card Judgement, followed by the cold stare of Justice. Once defeated, we find Debonair, prisoner. He asks to join us, and, well you've just seen what Tristan does in battle, so why say no to a second general? Debonair joins our party! Unlike other heros, Debonair does not bring any other units with him.
If we return to the area, we can go to Gares' castle and meet the goddess Fellana herself - if we qualify. We don't yet, but a helpful monk tells us how to get around to doing that.
While here I pick up the last three treasures, all small trinkets worth only selling (Ice orb, White Garb) except for the Mystic Veil (Resist fire +7, white +7, ice +11).
Next time: Debonair explains himself to one of the now three Devas.
