This was actually a retry; the first time I didn't hustle enough and was forced to either not get the member card, not recruit Legault, or have Lyn stand a very high chance of sacrificing herself.
- Tactics — 4 stars
- Survival — 5 stars
- Funds — 3 stars
- Exp — 1 star
- Combat — 5 stars
It's a good thing Ephidel doesn't seem to have any fighting skill—he'd be a nasty opponent with that short-range teleport.
We've arrived at Dragon's Gate. This is the end...Ephidel, Lord Darin, the mysterious Nergal...and Lord Elbert, if he's still alive. I'm unexpectedly confident we can beat them. In the narrow corridors of this structure, their numbers mean nothing.
So, that being the case, let's make our last battle a good show. Matthew's going to exact a thief's retribution—ransacking the Black Fang for all they're worth during the fight.
Eliwood, determined to rescue Lord Elbert, and now Ninian as well, is adamant about participating in the final battle. I've quietly instructed the other fighters to keep him out of trouble...it'd be a shame if he died this close to seeing his father again.
Hector: Fails to hit a longbowman he'd lured over, then rushes up to support Lyn, leaving him for Bartre. He clears the way for Lyn, charging for the throne room, by handaxing a mage, then returns to save Eliwood by repeating the feat. Rejoins Lyn to finally settle grudges with Darin.
Lyn: Takes point to kill three cavaliers and Cameron with the Mani Katti, then sheathes it for a while—it's seen heavy use and I've rather not see it break. She'll use an armorslayer from one of the cavaliers if necessary. Lyn runs straight through the room Eliwood opened the door to, dodging spears from two knights, a hand axe, and a mage. Then again, from one of the knights and a soldier. Heedless of all this, she charges headlong toward Lord Darin, crashing into a hapless thief along the way.
His name's Legault, and after our encounter with Uhai, Lyn takes a chance and talks with him. Turns out he was just leaving, and seems like a nice enough fellow. I'll take him up on his offer to join the company; the inner workings of the Black Fang intrigue me. Of course, he'll have to earn my trust.
A couple of shamans and the soldier think they can take Lyn on in her distracted state, but fail miserably. She finally loses steam just as she reaches Darin, out of vulneraries (and breath), and waits for Hector to catch up, then covers his back from a mercenary and two mages.
Legault: Runs up to his also-deserting partner and asks for something called a "member card". He nods, hands it over, and exits stage left. Legault then brushes past a confused Hector to insert the card in a hidden slot between some bricks. After feeding in a considerable amount of gold, he retrieves physic and unlock staves and a silver blade from a secret compartment. Together with the loot he'd already taken on his way out, he's provided us with quite a stockpile. Too bad we won't need it after this!
(Oh, if only you knew, tactician...fun fact: I did actually think this was the end of the game first time through, being the climax of the act and resolution of Eliwood's quest)
Bartre: Starts out crushing the nearest two knights with a hammer, then finishes off a longbowman and mounted healer before smashing a third knight, distracted by Lyn. He serves as the rearguard and deals with a large group of mages. Their lightning weakens him, but by now he is so beefy he can keep going in spite of electrocution.
Guy: Criticals a sniper behind the first door Matthew opened, then waits for the inevitable reinforcements...archers and pegasus knights this time.
Matthew: Opens the nearest door to loot a chest, finding a Brave Bow, then scurries to rejoin the party. He dodges a shot from a nomad, thanks to a convenient bush. The nomad continues the pursuit, shooting a few more times, until Bartre comes to the rescue.
Eliwood: Opens a door to the north for Lyn, getting shot by a nomad in the process. Together with Matthew, raids the chests within for a Luna tome and blue gem.
14 turns.
MVP: Lyn. Killed Cameron and dodged a ridiculous number of attacks to recruit Legault. The Mani Katti's only got 4 uses left; I hope the silver sword, longsword, and armorslayer can do the job against tougher opponents until I acquire the Hammerne.
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