Good level ups all around, as well as a new addition to the party!
Chapter 5 - The Empire's Reach
◊: Finished.
Base: Nothing really happened, so we just walked on into Serafew. After doing so I just noticed that the pre-battle menu has access to an armory (if an overpriced one), so I took advantage of that to get Neimi another iron bow. Seth will join us to help just a bit with the visiting of the houses.
Eirika & Seth: Stayed out of the way as best as possible, with Seth grabbing the Dragonshield from the southern house, although Seth had to meatshield for Neimi at one point due to a couple of brigands flanking the party. After that, they snuck around the inner town area and grabbed the secret book and armorslayer, respectively.
Garcia: Took care of the western entrance to the town, fighting off a couple fighters and an archer before stepping in and sort of chilling out for a while. Hand axed an archer from across the inner city wall a little while later. He waited around a bit more with Neimi and Franz, and then went north to take on Saar.
Franz & Neimi: Took the eastern entrance to the town, although they had a hell of a time with it. Franz drew out and defeated the people initially in front of Joshua, and then had to turn around and fight off some brigands alongside Neimi. An archer and soldier came after them after the bandits appeared, and Seth meatshielded alongside him to prevent Neimi from getting surrounded by a brigand and soldier. Once the brigands fell, Neimi took down a soldier and followed up with the archer. After Joshua was recruited, they just hung out with Garcia for a little while. Franz then ran north to visit the northernmost house and find a torch that was left behind by a disheveled looking girl who soon charged out.
Joshua & Natasha: Two new party members! After Josh was recruited, she stuck with him while he slaughtered all of the foes outside the city walls, including a pair of brigands who came trudging on in. They leisurely strolled along the outskirts of the town, Josh finishing off the remaining foes, before returning to the town square, where Natasha healed everyone.
Supports: Got one of them going on so far, Garcia and Neimi (C).
- Neimi: Sir?
- Garcia: ...
- Neimi: Sir...Garcia...?
- Garcia: Don't come near me right now, Neimi!
- Neimi: Oh! I-I'm sorry! I was just...wondering what you were doing.
- Garcia: I'm preparing myself for the battle. Please don't come near me right now.
- Neimi: Are you trying to get psyched?
- Garcia: Yes. To prepare myself for battle, I visualize the enemy in front of me. Then, during battle, I can focus all my attention on them. If you want to survive this war, you must focus all your attention on the enemy.
- Neimi: I-I see. Please excuse me now!
- Garcia: Wait!
- Neimi: Y-yes, sir?
- Garcia: I apologize for yelling at you.
- Neimi: That must be how he became such a brilliant warrior! I must go focus now...
Saar: Took four hits from Garcia to bring down, but Garcia avoided his two counterattacks with ease. Flawless Victory, on Garcia's part.
VS Saar: Envision the enemy in front of you. Know how the fight will go, for good or ill, and make that knowledge your weapon.
Garcia approached Saar, who was waiting near the towns nearest exit, waiting for the groups arrival. The knight readied his javelin, and Garcia stepped forward quickly, closing the distance to avoid a ranged assault. A horizontal swing with the flat of his axe buffeted the knight, sending his thrust into empty air, even as Garcia slammed his axe blade down upon the knights helmet. Disoriented by the ringing helm, Saar lashed out with a wide horizontal swing to the left. Garcia stepped forward again, catching the shaft of the spear. Now eye to eye with the knight, Garcia kept a firm grip on the weapon, effectively disarming his foe. He slid his grip up just beneath his axes head, and brought his arm back, over his shoulder. He began by slamming the butt of his axe's haft into the bottom of Saar's helm, dislodging it further and creating a small opening beneath it. There, he planted his axe, deep within the base of Saar's throat.
Afterwards: Natasha introduces herself to Eirika, and Eirika asks why she was being hunted by the military. She reveals that the emperor aims to destroy the Sacred Stones of every country, which shocks Seth, who notes that even now the stones are all that holds back the monsters. Eirika is worried about the story, but hopes that it is false, and the cause for this war lies elsewhere. Later, a villager recognizes her and thanks her for driving out Saar. He also notes that more Grado troops are doubtlessly coming, and implores her to flee. She apologizes for her inability to help, but he tells her not to worry, for a time will come when they will be liberated, and he gives her a Guiding Ring as she leaves.
Up Next: We join Ephraim for a bit in order to capture Renvall, while Eirika encounters a force of Grado soldiers holding a family captive...
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