The former more than the latter, since Garcia's been level 20 for a while now, but now that Amelia's coming up to level 20 herself, either would be much appreciated.
Chapter 12 - Village of Silence
◊: Finished.
Base: This is one of those chapters that immediately follows another, so there was no stop on the world map. Still, I buy an extra lighting tome for Natasha, since she's mostly gonna be using magic, to bolster her weapon level. Neimi uses the Orion's Bolt, promoting to Ranger, as was voted, and then taking a couple swords alongside her bows. I then sell Innes' white gem and have everyone recruited from Innes after deposit their inventories into the convoy (forgot to do this earlier, which explains why I've been a bit strapped for funds).
Eirika & Saleh: Kept up with the party so as to avoid getting blindsided by any reinforcements in the treacherous mountain paths. Saleh took over healing duties for Natasha for this chapter, because she was more focused on training her magic level, and he was available.
Franz & Amelia: Acted as the rear guard for the party at first, since this area gets ugly with enemy reinforcements after a short while. Amelia took on the enemies directly, with Franz keeping near to prevent any funny business (although Amelia's solid defenses made the Mauthe Doogs a non-threat and the Gargoyles a very minor one) and build up support points. Once these reinforcements were dealt with, Franz rescued her and they caught up with the rest of the party, who drew near to the village. They then crossed in front of the boss, heading towards the vendor and the enemies near there to mop them up. Finishing that, they headed towards the boss.
Garcia, Neimi, Joshua, & Natasha: Led the way through the village, pushing slowly through the thin mountain pass. Slowly they lured out the foes, Natasha and Neimi using their ranged weapons to dispatch the Bael's crawling around on the mountaintops, while Joshua and Garcia kept any incoming foes in check. They reached the village, where Natasha cleaned up the Mogalls, and Josh took down the gargoyles from the north. Neimi and Garcia dealt with the Gargoyle reinforcements from the southwest corner who appeared alongside those that Amelia and Franz were presently slaying. After that, a group of Gargoyles appeared at the northwest corner, and Natasha and Joshua waited for them. Josh picked off all the direct fighters, while Natasha helped him clean up the ranged ones on the following turn. Neimi then killed off the foes near the boss while avoiding drawing his attention, and soon enough the boss was all that was left.
Supports: Franz and Amelia (B) and Amelia and Neimi (C) this chapter!
- Amelia: Oh, Sir Franz!
- Franz: Amelia, hello. Call me Franz.
- Amelia: What? But...
- Franz: We are rivals, right? There's no need for the formality of titles.
- Amelia: Oh, of course not, sir!
- Franz: Ha ha ha... You did it again.
- Amelia: Well, then... I got it, Franz.
- Franz: Good.
- Amelia: Ha ha... I'm not used to being so casual.
- Franz: Can I ask you, what do you think of this war?
- Amelia: What?
- Franz: I still don't understand why Grado chose to invade Renais. Grado and Renais were allies. Their royal families were close friends. Why, Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika are friends with your Prince Lyon. I detect something funny here. I simply cannot believe a friendship so strong could end so abruptly. How many lives have been destroyed by such a seemingly random turn of events? Perhaps the prince and princess know more of the truth, but...
- Amelia: I...
- Franz: Oh, I'm sorry. I don't mean to besmirch your homeland's name.
- Amelia: No, it's all right. I wonder what drives Grado's ambitions now, too. I was born in a rural village and raised in Grado's countryside. Ever since I was a little child, I took pride in my home's origins. Grado, of course, is named after the legendary hero who saved all of Magvel. I thought I lived in a country that believed in justice and peace. But this war... It's something different than all that.
- Franz: Amelia... I'm sorry. This war must be especially painful for you...
- Amelia: I'll be fine, Franz. But thank you, though. It was wrong of Grado to invade Renais. Nothing can justify it. Grado has no right to destroy whole nations, ruin people's lives. This is all so...so wrong! I began this war as a soldier in Grado's armies. But now... I just want to believe... I want to believe in justice! I want to know I'm doing the right thing!
- Franz: Amelia... I understand it all very well. Your love of your homeland... Your sense of justice, of honor... If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know. We are rivals, but that doesn't mean we can't also be friends, right?
- Amelia: Franz... Thank you.
- Franz: I won't let you down.
- Amelia: No, neither will I!
—-
- Neimi: Whoa... That's beautiful! Your armor, I mean. It's so shiny.
- Amelia: Th-thanks. Ah... Er...
- Neimi: I'm Neimi.
- Amelia: Oh, my name is Amelia. Nice to meet you, miss.
- Neimi: Miss? Oh, no. I'm just Neimi. It's nice to meet you, too.
- Amelia: All right, Neimi it is.
- Neimi: Anyway, your armor really is lovely. That color reminds me of the michew berries that grow in my hometown.
- Amelia: Oh, I've had michew berries before! They're really shiny, and they're sweet and a little tart when you eat them. I just love them in pies...
- Neimi: Oh, I know! I didn't think they grew anywhere else. They're so yummy!
- Amelia: Tell you what: if we come across any in the field, let's stop and pick them.
- Neimi: That sounds like a good idea.
- Amelia: Maybe we can use some of the supplies to bake some michew pies for everyone. One bite, and they'll forget all about their exhaustion.
- Neimi: I agree. I'll keep my eyes peeled, and if I see any, I'll pick some for you.
- Amelia: Ha ha! That's great! Now we've got something to look forward to, hm? Oh, we'd better get back to the battle.
- Neimi: Aw... All right, Amelia. But let's talk some more again.
- Amelia: Oh, you bet! I'm really glad I met you, Neimi.
- Neimi: Me too, Amelia.
Maelduin: Amelia fought it for three rounds. First two rounds she hit him twice with her steel lance and dodged his attack, and the third round she criticals him and finishes him off.
Vs Maelduin: It was amazing the kind of friends one could make, even in these troubled times. She had met Franz as an enemy, and now they were competing to better themselves within the army as rivals! And with Neimi, she had found someone she could speak easily to and just forget about the war for a time. And alongside them, she was sure she could handle anything these monsters threw at them.
She stepped toward the Maelduin, mindful of its axe, and thrust her spear at its chest. The creature stepped back a bit, but was still grazed by the spears tip. Axe raised, it struck, slamming its weapon down toward her with feral strength, but hitting only empty air. Amelia followed her sidestep with a thrust at the Maelduin's side, which connected more solidly, puncturing the tough hide of the beast. The creature clumsily turned toward her, swinging its axe horizontally. Again she dodged, this time ducking beneath the swing and following it with a swing of her lance that cut into the monsters stomach. Before a counter could come, she quickly turned her lance back again, and smashed the haft of the spear into the creatures knee. It fell, and from there she stabbed it through the skull, freeing the town of Caer Pelyn from these creatures.
Afterwards: Saleh invites Ewan along (good, because I forgot to visit the house he was in before killing the boss) to much elation from the boy. Saleh speaks with the elder soon after, and she asks who we are. Innes introduces us, and asks for passage through the mountain. The elder explains the customs of Caer Pelyn, and asks if he would follow them, which he agrees to, and so we are invited to join them for the night before setting out. The elder explains the legend of the Great Dragon and how the Great Dragon defends the world from the demon kings brood. Eirika asks why the monsters have begun reappearing, if that is the case, and she explains that an omen in Grado drew the Great Dragon's attention. Saleh joining her, eventually combat broke out, and the Great Dragon disappeared without a trace ever since. Eirika wonders if Myrrh is the Great Dragon of whom they speak, and the elder is surprised at this information. The elder sends Saleh to find Myrrh, but L'Arachel notes that the swiftest path is alongside them, through Jehanna, and so Saleh will be joining us for the time being. Soon after, the party departs the village, and makes their way towards Jehanna.
Up Next: We face the dangers of Hamill Canyon, as Caellach sends one of his strongest soldiers to halt our advance.
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