Because Eltshan's a dangerous dude, and I'd rather not have to fight Lion King Eltshan.
(Note: sorry for the different chapter thing, but Serenes's link to the map didn't work, so I had to improvise.)
After losing Agusty, King Shagaal moved his court to Madino, and keeping his word with Eltshan, Sigurd didn't follow. As his soldiers rested in Agusty, Sigurd worked to restore administrative power back to the kingdom of Agustria, however the order to "maintain a presence and govern the people" from Barhara never changed. In only a half year's time, the Barharan officials sent to govern the country began abusing their power, and soon, the people's discontent grew and spurred a new conflict that worried Sigurd. Shagaal has now formed a new military force poised to try to take back Agusty, and the Orgahil pirates, an infamous group, had positioned themselves north of Madino and were ready to take advantage of the ensuing chaos. Ordered to hold Agusty at any cost, Sigurd was forced into a conflict which weighed heavily upon him. Eltshan also had forces positioned at Silvail, and the battle that seemed inevitably coming would be a true test of one's loyalty and friendship.
Shagaal waits in Madino, ready to take back Agusty as he sends out his troops. He then looks for his swordsman, Jacoban, and leaves him in charge of the castle. Eltshan is then informed of Shagaal's mobilization, which forces Eltshan to postpone his return to the capital, and he's left wondering what to do, knowing that he can't bring himself to fight Sigurd. Very much further north, at Orgahil, a pirate speaks with a very un-pirate-like individual (who actually looks kind of like Aideen...), calling her "cap'n" and telling her about the war. The pirate talks of ransacking the villages in the chaos, but the woman tells him off, calling him Dobarl and stating that they will do no such thing, due to her personal creed that she aims to uphold. She then claims they're known for giving to the poor, not taking from them, and so Dobarl walks off. He and another pirate speak, and the generic notes that the woman apparently isn't the old captains daughter, having been adopted without being told of it, and that since she technically doesn't run things, they can do as they please. Now in Agusty, Oifaye warns Sigurd of Shagaal's mobilization, and Sigurd is surprised, noting that they were just about to leave. Oifaye also informs him of the Orgahil pirate's movements, and so Sigurd decides that with all of this trouble, he must mobilize. Dierdre is sad that he's been forced back into combat, and he agrees, but says he can't bring her along this time, since they now have a child who someone must watch. He then tells Shanan to watch Dierdre and Serlis (okay, even I know that's wrong).
Looking at the foes and map, this one is a lot more straightforward design-wise, but the enemies have mobilized in a much more direct assault on us, so this is gonna take some smooth moves to defend. Before everything else though, I do preparations. Shopping wise, I have Azel buy the elfire tome, Holyn buy the silver sword, Lex buy the silver axe (he's just drowning in these things, I swear), and Jamka buy the silver bow, and no one buy the silver lance, since Cuan already has one and no one else can wield one. I then put everyone through the Arena (I note that Dierdre can still do this, and just can't sortie or enter the battlefield, so that's good). The people who bested it in full are Jamka, Sigurd, Levin, Aira, and Holyn. As for Pawn Shop dealings, I had Sigurd send his Knightslayer to Fin and purchase the Return Ring, had Jamka pass his steel bow to Midir, had Sylvia pass the Armourcutter to Beowulf, had Ethlin pass her slim sword to Fury (she didn't need it at all now that she had the Light Sword), had Ardan pass his iron sword to Sylvia (he has a steel sword, so he didn't need it) and had Sylvia pass her slim sword to Lachesis (gave Sylvia the iron sword for protections sake, and gave Lachesis the slim sword so she can hit things better), gave Levin the magic ring, and had Aideen buy all of the staves in there, so she could repair them and use them for quick experience when she reaches lover status with Jamka and he can share his vast arena wealth with her.
Also, just as a quick note, if there are any other secret event things, like with Lex's brave axe, I would not be opposed to you sharing assuming it doesn't involve some sort of plot spoiler.
To begin sortieing, I send Sigurd, Alec, Noish, Cuan, Ethlin, Aira, Holyn (who talks with Aira, giving her a brave sword, like she needed more attacks), Dew, Lachesis, Beowulf, Lex, and Azel out north, while Aideen, Jamka, Fin, Midir, Levin, Sylvia, and Fury take the eastern route, Ardan staying behind to guard the castle and take on any foes who sneak through the lines. I send Cuan and Ethlin to intercept the pirate attacking the northwestern village, as well as deal with the mages, while Fin and Midir head for the northeastern villages about to get ransacked, sneaking past the knights that Jamka's group prepares to take on before looping to join Sigurd. Sigurd's group slowly approaches Madino, sticking together so they can match any foes they come across.
Sigurd's group provokes a platoon of axe-armors and their captain to come to them, so they advance and await their arrival. Jamka's group engages a platoon of lance-armors, Midir taking the time to destroy one thanks to duel as he passes, and the rest of the group blasting them with their assorted attacks, Aideen healing Fury when she gets hurt. Noting a troop of cavalry coming from the west, I send Lex, Alec, and Noish to take them on, while Sigurd's group fights a mixture of armors and bow knights. Cuan reaches the pirate, and Ethlin prepares to fend off the mages with her Light Sword, while Cuan saves the village. Jamka's group finishes off the armors, Fury having nearly died in the onslaught, but getting fixed up by Aideen.
Beowulf got bumrushed and stuck full of a bunch of arrows. Reset Counter: 7(?)
The only change was that I deployed Ardan with Sigurd's group to give them some extra manpower, and that Lex, Noish, and Alec split from Sigurd immediately to go after the western cavalry.
Alright, so Jamka's group dealt with the armor knights far more efficiently and safely, and thus were able to being heading towards Sigurd's group earlier, while his group has dealt a heavier blow to the armors and bow knights. Ethlin is also able to reach the pirate, and kills him with a ranged light sword critical while Cuan visits the village. The village actually gives me some helpful information, warning me that Shagaal hired wyvern knights from Thracia (not good) and that they are "the most ruthless killin' machines around" (also not good), and then the man gives Cuan 4000 gold.
Dammit, this time it was Lachesis who got shot. Those bow knights are a serious pain. Reset Counter: 8.
And now for the third time this chapter, it's Noish, this time getting stuck by the entirety of the cavalier horde. And right after I'd survived the bow knights, too... Reset Counter: 9.
Alright, finally, everyone survived the onslaught of these Madino troops. I send Ethlin into the forest to go take care of the mages, and have Cuan head south to go save Noish's group. Said group takes care of the leftover mooks, and runs out of the range of their captain, leaving him for Cuan to face. Midir takes a detour from saving the villages so that he can help Sigurd's group, who eventually kill all but one armor, who isn't likely to kill anyone anytime soon. Jamka's group heads north and prepares to join up with Sigurd's group, while Fin saves on of the villages, receiving a restore staff (going to Ethlin through the pawn shop), and 3500 gold.
Sadly, cavalier leader dude didn't want to play ball, and he just tossed a javelin at Cuan, leaving too low in health to deal with him up close. This guys such a pain. I leave Azel just at the end of his range, so that he can get lit on fire for his troubles, and send Cuan back north to meet with Ethlin. Midir and Fin are about to join with Sigurd, once they deal with the nearby pirate attacking the further north village, while Jamka's group merges with Sigurd's and Aideen and Lachesis begin healing people. They also will wait for Noish's group to rejoin them and get healed, as well as Cuan and Ethlin, before they storm Madino. Fury also visits the final village south of Madino, receiving 3000 gold.
As everyone congregates (although due to annoying pirates attacking a village, I'll have to begin without Cuan and Ethlin), I make sure they are in perfect health, and then stop for now, before I begin the assault on Madino.
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