Last time, if you would be so kind as to think back that far, the Royal Army inadvertently extirpated the Undines from their home territory.
I don't see how that works, given that we fought at most 128 Undines, but whatever. They reincarnate instead of reproducing, so I guess that could be a significant portion of the population...?
Whatever. Let's move on before this plotline makes me angry again.
Battlefield 08: Black Rose Domain
Embellia Border: Check Point!
- Yggdra: Where are we now?
- Durant: Verlaine Hills, Princess. I would guess this is the Black Rose's domain. Wait, you don't know the geography of the area? We are so screwed... It's governed by Roswell, of the house of Branthese. (Sounds of battle are heard.)
- Milanor: Sheesh, there's a real commotion going on here... Hey! What the hell is that?
Village: Check Point!
- Golem: Gwooooooooh! That was the wimpiest roar ever. Though I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering how weak golems are in this game.
Assault! -Under siege!-
- Resident: Aieeeee!
- Magician (Necromancer): S-Save us!
Black Rose Manor: Check Point!
- Black Rose Soldier (Necromancer): Lord Roswell! It's an ambush! Our towns are being attacked!
- Roswell: Curses... I've been careless. Roswell's sprite is a shining example of why this game shouldn't have just used palette swaps for named members of non-unique classes, I should note.
- Durant: Golems!? Is the Empire here already!?
- Yggdra: The people are under attack!
- Milanor: This isn't good... Well, what are we doing sitting here?
- Yggdra: Let's go!
Victory condition:
- Defeat all golems!
Defeat condition:
- If Yggdra, Milanor, or Roswell dies...
- If you use up all your cards...
- If all the towns are destroyed...
Well, let's get to it! My first action is to feed Yggdra, Milanor, and Durant some Medallions, because they could definitely use them.
Instead of using the Aquarius now, I go with the Hair Band. I can get more use out of its effect, and its effect on Nietzsche's stats is roughly the same (the big benefit is getting her 4 Luk, which will permit her to force many item drops). Milanor gets the Winged Sandals, for they shall improve his stealing.
Lastly, Yggdra now has the Brave Ring so as to make her stats less terrible. It's effect is nice too, I guess.
For cards, I can take 8. My choices are Steal, Bloody Claw, Shield Barrier (DEAR GOD do I ever want that one here), Revolution, Mind Change, Banshee's Cry, Blizzard, and Banish.
- Durant: Golems have no consciousness... They're like puppets.
- Yggdra: So... There must be a puppet master here somewhere.
- Milanor: What, he just sits back from the shadows? What a coward! Still, we don't have time for a search. Let's just bust 'em up.
All right, here we go. My foes are Rosary (who is a witch), along with her golems Sodom and Gomorrah. Rosary is the only threat here right now, but that's going to change soon enough.
At any rate, I've also nominally got to protect Roswell. He won't really get attacked, though, so I don't have to worry. His class is Necromancer, which would be really cool in a different game.
Anyway, Rosary's first action is to send Sodom south, to a nearby village.
Flarney Village: Check Point!
...
...
...Flarney?
- Resident: Aieeee! S-Save us...
- Milanor: Crap! They're destroying that town!
- Yggdra: Hurry, everyone! We must stop them before they claim more victims!
Rosary can't really do much else, but she does move Gomorrah east a space.
Did I mention that golems can only move one space at a time? Because golems can totally only move one space at a time.
Anyway, I use Revolution to send Yggdra up in Gomorrah's general direction. That's it.
Rosary can't do much this turn, but she can move Sodom and Gomorrah toward their eventual targets. Gomorrah is right next to his target, but won't get the chance to attack it.
With the might of Banshee's Cry, Yggdra strikes at the golem.
- Yggdra: Someone must be controlling these things!
Yggdra is quite capable of destroying golems in single combat. Banshee's Cry doesn't have enough power for her to fell one on her own, but Roswell joins in on the action, bringing the foul monstrosity to its knees.
Honestly, the only reason I used Banshee's Cry was so that Roswell would get to attack. His theme music is amazing.
Anyway, I also move Milanor up a bit while breaking any and all unions he's involved in. This is because I'm psychic and know that once Rosary's done moving her one remaining golem, Mizer will show up again.
Mobilize! -Time to move out!-
- Yggdra: Someone is coming this way!
- Milanor: Damn bounty hunters... They just don't know when to give up, do they?
- Mizer: It's payday! Get ready, Princess!
Mizer does absolutely nothing of note, so I just get ready to steal his new shoes. They're nothing special, but I can only afford to miss one pair ever.
Which is why I move Milanor up to the poor sod right away.
- Milanor: You again!? You're getting to be a real pain, you know that?
- Mizer: Yeesh, don't take it so personal... A job's a job!
I head after Mizer with a union consisting of Milanor, Durant, and Nietzsche. They all win, but he managed to stun two of them. At least I drove him off the field and got his boots, though.
Pull Back! -Time to regroup!-
- Mizer: ...Crap! I'm outta here!
I then move Yggdra to the town Sodom is threatening.
Magician Village: Check Point!
- Magician: S-Someone... Save us......
- Yggdra: Please, stay calm! We'll save you!
Rosary refuses to use her golem to attack. This fails to save it, for I use Bloody Claw on my turn. This does quite a bit of damage, but not enough to kill it. Fortunately, this also gives Milanor and Nietzsche time to recover, in addition to letting me choose Shield Barrier for my card.
I move Milanor up next to the last golem, opposite Yggdra.
- Milanor: This thing's huge! Looks solid as a rock, too.
In addition, I move Durant two spaces north, where he can support both Yggdra and Milanor.
They aren't needed, though, for Yggdra destroys the golem easily on her attack.
Defended! -Protected from the enemy!-
- Yggdra: We did it!
Strategy Succeeded! -Prevented the golems' invasion!
- Golem: Urgh... Uuaah......
- Milanor: What the...!? They just crumbled into a pile of rocks.
- Durant: ...The magic was lifted. These rocks are their true forms.
- ???: Tch... I hadn't planned on this. You don't have to hide her identity, game.
- Milanor: Who's there!?
- Durant: That voice... Was that the White Rose's...?
- Milanor: I'm betting that's the master of those pet rocks. Never change, Milanor.
Verdant Grassland: Check Point!
- Yggdra: That flag...!
- Durant: ...It's the White Rose Army!
- Yggdra: Why are the two houses at war? What could have happened...? Something stupid, that's what. You'll see soon enough.
- Milanor: Hey, that's not all... Isn't that the Imperial Army!?
(Several Imperial troops arrive on the scene.)
Valley Meadows: Check Point!
Reinforcements! -Help has arrived!-
- Durant: ......!? By Jove, you're right! It IS the Imperial Army! As far as I know, this setting has no Romans. So why are you- oh, never mind.
- Yggdra: So the Imperial Army is helping the White Rose start a war?
- Durant: ...It's quite possible. Remember, the Empire was also behind the Undine affair.
- Yggdra: We cannot let the Empire have its way! Let us stop this invasion!
- Imperial Soldier (Fencer): General Russell, the Black Rose Army has reinforcements...!
- Russell: Aha... So, they're the ones who defeated our golems. Hmmm... We can't very well retreat in front of our employer. Let's move out.
- Imperial Soldier (Fencer): Yes, Sir!
Victory condition:
- Defeat Astral Fencer Russell!
- Durant: That man... It's Russell, the Astral Fencer. What is one of the Five Dragon Generals doing here?
- Milanor: Five Dragons? What are you talking about?
- Durant: I refer to the five strongest generals of the Imperial Army.
- Milanor: Hmmm... Sounds like he's the guy we need to beat to end this quick.
All right, I've got to fight Russell now. He's pretty tough, most notably having 4 Tec.
Furthermore, he has Item Break, a card that...breaks my items. This is quite annoying, to say the least. He doesn't have much morale, though.
The Imperial troops get the first move, but it doesn't do them much good. Shield Barrier allows me to block Item Break easily, and it also gets Milanor an advantage over the generic fencers.
On Roswell's turn, he decides to start something of his own...
- Roswell: Alright, let's show our true power. Begin the preparations.
- Black Rose Soldier: Right away, Sir!
My turn involves using Steal to send Yggdra to the two towns we saved, which both have stuff for us. First, the north town.
Celim Magic School: Check Point!
- Magic Researcher: Thank you for saving us from the golems... It's not much, but here... Take this. (Item get: Mage Ring)
Now, the south town.
Magician Village: Check Point!
- Magician: You...! You're the ones who saved us from the golems! We'd like to give you this to show our gratitude. (Item get: Dowsing Rods)
I then attempt to take the items from Rosary and Russell. Unfortunately, I fumbled the steal for Russell, but I got Rosary's item. Also, Milanor leveled up.
Russell then sends a valkyrie to die against Yggdra, while Rosary strikes Nietzsche. Then, on Roswell's turn...
- Milanor: Damn... He's tough!
- Durant: There's a reason they call him the Astral Fencer. Honestly, that title sounds kinda dumb if you ask me.
- Yggdra: At this rate... We'll be in very little trouble. We're doing fine, and you shouldn't worry.
Ankh Cannon -Judgement of the gods.-
- Black Rose Soldier: Preparations complete, Sir!
- Roswell: Excellent. Aim carefully... Steady... and fire!
(A beam of light strikes the battlefield, damaging all enemy troops.)
- Milanor: Wh-What the hell!?
- Yggdra: That light...
- Russell: What just happened!?
- Imperial Soldier (Fencer): I-It's a magic attack like we've never seen!
- Milanor: I don't know what that was, but it gave us our opening!
- Durant: Now is the time! Attack!
So, Roswell just used his Ankh. It does damage equal to 20% of the target's remaining morale, and hits enemies in a reasonably wide area. Roswell will use it every turn from here on out.
Anyway, I use Bloody Claw to rearrange my union, then attack Rosary. Milanor hits her, Yggdra kills a valkyrie, Nietzsche takes on Russell, and Durant finishes Rosary. Nietzsche levels off of this.
Withdraw! -Forced to retreat.-
- Rosary: Tch! Is this the end!?
After that, Russell's last fencer commits suicide, and the man himself steps forward.
- Milanor: You're this Astral Fencer guy? You don't look so tough!
- Russell: Heh... Think you can dodge my blade? Well, we'll find out, won't we!
After Roswell fires his ankh again, I use Blizzard. With it, Milanor moves east a space, and Nietzsche steps up to the plate.
- Nietzsche: Y-You look strong...
- Russell: I don't like to fight women. Step aside, for your won sake.
Russell's chivalry isn't enough to save him from a Nietzsche critical hit. I finish the fight with Diamond Dust, more out of a sense of the dramatic than anything else.
Pull Back! -Time to regroup!-
- Russell: ...This looks like the end...
Justice Prevailed! -Astral Fencer Russell Annihilated!
- Durant: Princess, the enemy is in retreat.
- Yggdra: That light saved us... What was it? It was ultimately underwhelming, seeing as it can't actually kill anything.
- Milanor: Hey, you know some guy named Roswell? He wants to talk. Said he wanted to thank us.
- Durant: Roswell... The head of Branthese house, of the Black Rose. We already know that!
- Yggdra: I see. Let us hold an audience with him.
That went pretty darn well. I took 26 turns when the quick clear bonus was 23, but the items were worth it. Milanor wins MVP.
Also, I made Russell drop his sword, the Zantetsu. There's also the two new cards I got, Doll Craft and Item Break.
Black Rose Manor: Check Point!
- Roswell: Without you, we wouldn't have survived the attack. I'm extremely grateful. A favor like that must be repaid What can I do for you?
- Yggdra: You are welcome. We must ask you something... Why did the White Rose Army try to invade? I had heard that relations weren't so strained before.
- Roswell: She... Rosary... seeks our Ankh.
- Yggdra: Ankh?
- Roswell: I trust you saw the light over the battlefield? The pillar of light that rained down upon the enemy... That's the work of our Ankh.
- Yggdra: That light...
- Roswell: The might of the Ankh is unparalleled. So basically, it's a fantasy WMD. Except it can't kill anything because it's a percentage based attack. Whoever holds it wields an incredibly destructive power.
- Yggdra: ............
New Cards:
- Doll Craft: Summons golems.
- Movement: 11
- Starting power: 1400
- Ace type: Rod
- Skill type: X
- Damage: 2 (unconditional)
- Requirement: Witch only
- Notes: Too bad golems suck and can destroy villages and bridges, or you might actually use this skill. The movement's great, though.
- Item Break: Destroys enemy's equipped item.
- Movement: 8
- Starting power: 1900
- Ace type: Sword
- Skill type: X
- Success requirement: User's Tec must be greater than or equal to the target's Gen
- Requirement: Fencer only
- Notes: I don't know why they think I'd want to break enemy items, but I guess I can now. Or at least, I will be able to once I recruit a fencer.
New items:
- Dowsing Rods: Magical sticks that react to certain substances.
- Stats: Atk-2, Luk+6
- Ability: React to an item
- Duration: 8 maps
- Used by: Roswell
- Notes: The trick is timing the use of these things.
- Lucky Broom: A broom that brings happiness.
- Stats: Gen+2, Atk+4, Luk Up
- Ability: Drop Rate 100%
- Duration: 3 maps
- Used by: Rosary
- Notes: Since it raises Luk, which is a stat Rosary naturally has in abundance, you'd probably get the item anyway. The other stat boosts are all right, though.
- Mage Ring: A ring of such power that wars have been fought over it.
- Stats: Tec+6
- Ability: Gauge fills
- Duration: 1 map
- Used by: Level 5+
- Notes: This little ring can do wonderful things, you know.
- Tough Boots: Special boots to wade through poison marshes.
- Stats: Gen+2
- Ability: Void Poison
- Duration: 1 map
- Used by: Not Horse/Swim
- Notes: There's only one poison marsh in the entire game, which is both populated by hideously underleveled foes and followed by a map that restores everyone's morale at the end of it. So...morale!
- Zantetsu: A legendary blade that can cut anything in twain.
- Stats: Atk Up, Tec Up
- Ability: Advantage against golems
- Duration: 3 maps
- Used by: Russell
- Notes: Guess that solves the mystery of who our fencer will be. Anyway, the stats on this thing are awesome, even if the ability isn't.
Music this update:
- Roswell Sortie
- This is one of the more popular battle themes, and I can see why. That saxophone as magnificent.
- Rosary Sortie - This theme's only crime is that it must be compared to Roswell's.
- Imperial General Sortie - You'd better get used to this one, because it'll play in a lot of battles. I can totally get behind that idea, though.
Well, there's not much to say about this stage. One thing, though: If you kill both golems before turn 7, Mizer won't appear. So hold your fire a bit.
Edit: Forgot an item.
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