7 turns 8 turns, obviously, as it's a survival chapter that doesn't end early. (EDIT: According to Barry the game counts an extra turn at the end.) Although I had some difficulty in chapter 12 finishing in a timely manner due to peg knights being sissies and retreating, this is the first time a character died.
I attempted to follow my usual aggressive strategy for this level...but with only four usable combat characters, Bartre, blockading the lower-right corner with no support, died quickly. Now, perhaps you think this is because the axe fighters overwhelmed him, or because he's not the greatest unit. Wrong on both counts; Bartre dodged and bashed his opposing numbers in the head like a pro for several turns...only to be shot to death by a pair of nomads hiding in 2 of the only 4 squares in that area my torch didn't reveal. Restart.
Second try, I had Bartre and Guy head left together to kill the mage and myrmidon, respectively. Also, for good measure, Bartre ate the secret book he retrieved in chapter 12. Then, Guy headed up a bit while Bartre went right into a patch of forest, conveniently blocking that area from enemy approach. All my non-combat units (Oswin with a rescued Merlinus) huddled between them for protection. This gave me fewer fronts to cover, put Bartre and Guy close enough to help each other out...and, rather than make the enemies come to me, it unfortunately encouraged them to go somewhere else altogether and cause problems for Marcus. Even the mighty Jeigan can be overwhelmed...
Meanwhile, Hector and Marcus went up top to rescue the village and possibly kill the boss, Puzon; Matthew tagging along behind with the torch. I took this opportunity to do some trading; Hector now (finally) has an iron axe and Marcus a hand axe. Things went well for a bit, a mess of NO DAMAGES and one-hit K Os involving Hector, Marcus, and many bandits, nomads, and myrmidons.
Then all the bandits from the lower-right corner reacted to my change in strategy by booking it for the village, and I still hadn't knocked down the snag. Hector did so and Marcus was forced to divert to save it; this prevented me from killing the boss. Fortunately, the two bandits already in range of the village would rather suicide themselves on the heavily-armed paladin than fulfill their "rape, pillage, and burn" contract.
Marcus takes many unlucky, improbable, and worrying Scratch Damage hits to finish the level with under 10 hitpoints, but the grateful villagers reward him with much gold. Hector cannot reach Puzon in time. Guy could, but could also die, and I've learned the value of caution by now, so the level ends with Puzon and one nomad on his island remaining.
At least the cutscene makes sense now that there's an enemy or two left alive rather than ghosts talking to Hector.
