Chapter 2: Sword of Spirits
A small altar lies on the outskirts of Bulgar. This ancient temple, sacred to the people of Sacae, has long been known for its powerful bond to the world of spirits. Before starting their journey, our travelers come here to pray for their well-being. At this altar, Lyn's hand is directed to a grand inheritance.
Lyn's gone on a short detour, allowed by Garystu, naturally. Lyn's going to an altar east of Bulgar to pray to the sacred sword there for safety. Sain thinks it's quaint, but Kent thinks it's good to see the ancient customs are still being observed. But uh-oh, trouble's brewing! Another amusingly hammy stage boss named Glass is threatening the priest at the altar. It seems he wants to get his hands on the sacred sword the Mani Katti, but the priest is refusing to let him have it. He says that using it in combat would be "sacrilege". Glass responds, "I am Glass! The gods fear my name! My swordplay is peerless!" Peerlessly awful, maybe. Seriously, you can barely even hurt Lyn.
He shoves the priest aside and tries to draw the Mani Katti, but can't. The spirits of the blade have rejected him. D'aww. Glass locks the priest up and declares, "I'll tear this altar down stone by stone!" Disproportionate Retribution, much? An NPC woman runs up to Lyn, Sain and Kent and tells them that a band of local ruffians are trying to steal the Mani Katti. Lyn decides that her group is going to go to the priest's aid. Oh, it is on.
My team: Lyn (Lv. 2), Sain (Lv. 2), Kent (Lv. 2)
We're up against five brigands and Glass. Glass is a mercenary, a balanced sword-wielding class, so Sain and Kent will finally be able to put their lances to use. Anyway, the game makes us visit the three houses to gather information. We learn nothing very useful. I never bother with houses, myself. What we learn is that we can hit cracked walls to break them, units on horseback can't cross mountains, and the Mani Katti is waiting for its rightful owner (hmm...). After that interesting diversion, everyone heads northeast, with Lyn sitting in a forest and Sain sitting on a fortress, which lets units recover health and gives defence and avoid bonuses. Lyn kills a brigand, while Kent and Sain head east with their swords out. Kent starts to break the wall down. The cavaliers weaken the brigands, with Sain killing one and Lyn killing the other. Lyn gets a level off it - Skill, Speed, Luck and Resistance. That sure is a Lyn level.
Stupidly, I used Kent's lance to break the wall because it was stronger, just before noticing that it would have taken three turns anyway. I moved Lyn in front of him in such a way that the brigand with the weapon triangle advantage can get to him! Doh. Oh well, he's still got plenty of health left to kill Glass, and Lyn teaches the brigand a lesson in PAIN. Once the wall is down, Lyn and Sain move inside the shrine. Sain moves south to get the last brigand and kills him. I hope he'll level up off that brigand, but he doesn't.
I use Kent to weaken Glass. Glass can only do 3 damage with every attack, and hits pretty much every time, while Kent, with his lance, does 9 damage with every attack. After an allied phase and an enemy phase, Glass is down to 2 HP. Kent's badly injured at this point, down to 4 HP, but he'll survive. If Sain had levelled up off the brigand to the south, I would have let Kent kill Glass and take the level, but since I want to make up for Sain's crappy level last chapter, I send Sain up to do it. Glass dies, and Sain nets himself a level - HP, Strength, Skill and Defence. Now that is exactly what we're looking for. Oh, and an extra Vulnerary, too. Lyn seizes the throne, and we are out of here.
Lyn lets the priest out. He's unhurt, and the Mani Katti is safely sealed away. Lyn is allowed to touch it and pray for a safe journey. Ooh, but the sword's glowing! If you haven't already guessed that Lyn turns out to be the destined wielder of the Mani Katti by now, get back on the short bus. The spirits within the blade have chosen her., and she's able to draw it. The Mani Katti, by the way, is an awesome weapon. It's lighter, more powerful, and has a better crit rate than the Iron Sword Lyn's been using up until now. Don't bother conserving it in Lyn's story, use it all you want. By the time you get her back in Eliwood's story, it'll be fully repaired.
Meanwhile, at Castle Caelin, shenanigans! Lundgren's found out from NPC Soldier #3 that Lyn is still alive, and travelling north with Kent and Sain. Lundgren decides to leave them for now and let the bandits in northern Bern deal with her. He continues his nefarious plot to slowly poison the Marquess. With a magnificently evil "heh heh heh", he declares, "Soon Caelin will be mine!" But Garystu won't stand for that! Find out how he does in about 8 chapters or so, Lundy.
Let's Meet the New Meat! Or let's not. No new units in this chapter.
