Fire Emblem Tropera

"I don't care if she's a three-headed serpent-woman, that's no excuse to get me wet!" Vera shouted at the serving girl, a puddle of water at her feet and splashed cushions around her. "My feet are drenched thanks to your delicate constitution and fear. So go on, get it out of the way. Yes, she is a manakete, as is the boy. Over there we have a laguz, and if that is not enough of a carnival for your amusements, I can call my Pegasus for you to gawk at! Now apologize this very minute, and "

Gramps grumbled while pulling a bottle of pure water out of his bear cloak. Or at least, a bottle that was labeled "pure water", but which definitely didn't smell like water.

"Is there some sort of cultural significance to manaketes around here? Positive or negative?" Grendan asked, not particularly caring who he got an answer from so long as he got one.

Astra, meanwhile, squirmed uncomfortably at being the center of attention once again.

"I-I'm sorry!" the servant said, quickly dropping to her knees to sop up the spilled water, with Malia bending down to help. "I never believed they were real!"

"What do you mean?" Malia frowned.

"The Chamurians, their legends claim that they were once ruled by the children of dragons, the ones they call 'manakete' in their old tongue. But I thought they, that you, were just fairy tales!" The servant looked up anxiously, or perhaps expectantly. "Are you here on behalf of the rebels?"

This was new, Kiri looked down at the servant girl as she told her tale. It was surprising to learn that Manaketes had decided to involve themselves so heavily in the lives humans, much less rule over them. "No, I am not. Our goals extend beyond the fate of a single nation.But I am curious now" she noted, locking eyes with the woman, not wanting her to get away easily. "Stay for a moment and tell me of this rebellion. If my kind are involved surely something significant is at stake."

edited 21st Sep '17 12:15:23 AM by Azure

"If nothing else, your tale will help pass the time as I wait to dry," Vera commented.

And the drinks have arrived. Sadly, the server seems to be a huge klutz. That, or she doesn't like Manakete, judging by her nickname for Astra and Kiri's species. Dragonborn, really? However, Kiri took offense at that and corrects her.

After getting soaked and complaining about it, Vera apparently stood up for Astra and Kiri and points out Xel being a Laguz and her Pegasus. Grendan even asks the server about the cultural significance of Manaketes. In response, the server explains everything she has heard about the Manaketes and asks the group about the rebellion.

Damien's interest is piqued by the mention of this rebellion. There were others who fought the good fight against these evil Vissan. Hopefully, the other Robinson clan members are busy fighting against this threat. It has been too long since he last heard from them.

“Tell us more about this rebellion. Who leads them?”

Grendan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are things here really so bad that people would do such things?"

"Well, I don't know that much about it. They called themselves 'the Crowned,' and it's all something about restoring their king, or something," the servant said. "It's the Chamurians, you know? It doesn't really have anything to do with me if they want to fight among themselves. But rumor has it that one of their leaders is one of your kind," she said, nodding to Kiri.

"They aren't targeting Sowtlunders?" Diane asked.

The servant shrugged. "There are lots of stories about attacks, but the Duke says that's just the Skaldrs trying to stir up trouble."

"And who are the Skaldrs?"

"Oh, they're just traditionalists. They do things like marches for Sowtlund pride, and make sure our traditions are kept in the old ways. They can be a bit obnoxious, but they're harmless."

"Do you know where I could find this rebillion?" Kiri continued "You don't have to get give me anything specific but sure even a commoner could point me in their general direction."

"Come now Kiri, that's no way to speak to the help," Vera said. "Royal serving girls are a cut above a mere commoner."

The servant shrugged. "If anyone knew where they are, they'd just send the army after them and be done with it.

"Please excuse me now, I need to attend to my other duties," she said, giving the company a deep bow before retreating out the door she had entered from. A few minutes later, a different servant returned with a tray of light fare which they left without comment, and then departed.

"I guess we should make ourselves comfortable," Malia said.

"You all may do that, I am going into town.Surely there are answers somewhere." Kiri said taking a few thing from the stockpile the group apparently carries everywhere with them and striding out of the palace.

"I should probably go make sure Heath doesn't get into trouble. Again." With those words, Grendan left as well.

Damien listens to the servant talk about this group called the Crowned. They were comprised of Chamurians who wanted to “restore their king”, and one of their leaders is a Manakete. Kiri wants to know more about them since their leader is like her in a sense, but she got a vague answer. Kiri leaves the group with a few weapons in order to get some answers. And Grendan left because he was worried about Heath.

Before deciding on his next course of action, Damien decides to grab a bite or two to eat. After all, Malia even told the group to get comfortable. Damien takes a few pieces out of the strange snacks.

“Boy, the food looks great,” notes Damien as he nervously chuckles. The absence of some of the group members makes the light fare even more unappetizing. Aren't these things supposed to be group affairs, anyways?

edited 22nd Sep '17 10:47:59 PM by josh6243

"Well, I suppose that's a more appealing prospect than being forgotten about by the duchess," Vera agreed with Kiri. "I'm sure the Viscount can handle things if she suddenly decides to impose herself upon us?"

Gramps lifted up his bottle of 'pure water' at the comment. "I've spent enough time on the road to know how to appreciate food from a kitchen," he said, setting down his bottle and leaning over to pick up some of the cheeses and crackers from tray.

"The markets are always a good place to start, I think," Vera added as she left the palace.

Gramps told Damien that he appreciates food from the kitchen. Damien nervously laughs to Gramps while enjoying some crackers to the best of his ability.

“You may have a point there. Us Robinsons usually prefer to forage and hunt for food, so we don't eat rich like you guys.”

Still, all these cheese and crackers is a bit too fancy for Damien's blood even if they tasted pretty good. If only they served good ol' wild boar. He'll be all over that like ugly on the many village idiots all over Tropera.

edited 23rd Sep '17 12:20:42 AM by josh6243

"I'll join ye," Scherwiz said, picking themself up, along with a couple more pastries from the tray. "Not much excitement goin' on hereabouts."

"I'll come, too," Diane said. "I'd like to see more of this fascinating land while I can."

The smaller group made their way down the hill into the town. Most of the buildings shared similar architecture to the palace, with wooden walls and sharply sloped roofs (though of course none were as ornately decorated), but here and there a few stone buildings with squared roofs and the same distinctive arches that had been all over the port city broke up the pattern.

If the group had expected to find the location of the rebels here, though, they were to be disappointed.

"The Crowned? They claim they've got the rightful heir to the throne, but the royal bloodline was supposed to have been wiped out before my grandfather's time. What? No, I don't know where they are. No one does."

"What, the rebels? Who cares, let the Chams fight it out. Any luck, they'll all finish each other off."

"The Crowned? They're a bunch of hot air. The real problem is those damned Skaldrs. They think they've got the right to finish what their ancestors started and take the whole land for themselves."

"I wish I knew where they were. I'd go right to the Skaldrs, and they'd put an end to those attacks on us good, true-blooded Sowters once and for all."

As the sun began to sink toward the horizon, all of their inquiries had left them no closer to finding the rebels than they'd started.

"Ah, the wind ain't with us today," Scherwiz sighed. "S'ppose we best look to bunkin' down fer the night an' make headway in the morn'. ...whatcher lookin' at?" they added, looking curiously at D Iane.

"Hmm?" the attendant said, turning back to the others. "Oh, nothing. It's just... doesn't it seem like there are more people in town now than when we got here?" she said, looking over her shoulder again as a burly man ambled past them toward another pair of Sowtlunders on the corner. There was a brief gleam of metal from beneath their cloaks as they greeted each other, and then all three turned to leave, heading in the direction of the road up to the palace.

edited 23rd Sep '17 2:43:07 PM by Wryte

Grendan's eyes narrowed at the metallic gleam. "Armor. Those are soldiers... probably either returning from a patrol, or getting ready to attack the palace." He looked at Scherwiz as he added, "Seems the wind may be starting to turn, wouldn't you say? After all, this would be the perfect opportunity to attack, and the loyalists' military wouldn't interrupt the council without good reason- and they aren't in a big enough hurry for that to be the case."

"It's probably nothing. If it's something, we can handle it," Vera said idly, not averting her gaze from her copy of Pegasus Days, Falcon Nights that she bought from one of the merchants in town.

edited 23rd Sep '17 3:19:54 PM by nman

"Well, I'm heading back," Diane said, making a gesture that was half shrug and half shiver. "Someone should fill in the others, even if it turns out to be nothing." With that, she started making her way back up to the palace with whoever decided to follow her.

"Guess it's a good thing I decided to take Heath out for a walk, isn't it?" Grendan asked as he slapped the wyvern's side. "Here, climb on and I'll carry you there. It'll be a lot faster than walking."

Kiri sighed abit, honestly the sheer indifference to the struggles of their own kin was incredible weakness of individual humans. As she was lamenting thier bad luck a glint of caught her eye, seemed there were a few people here who would rather conceal how heavily armed they are. And they were heading back to the palace.

Honestly, it was the last place she wanted to go right now, but if fate was leading this she might as well indulge it for a while. Stepping out she took wing back to the palace, without really thinking about it.

With Grendan and Vera giving rides to Diane and Scherwiz, the group's return to the palace was not only short, but revealed that the trio they had seen in town were far from alone. The road up to the palace was lined with small groups making their way up the hill. Not only that, but as they circled around the palace, another staggered line of people appeared to be coming at it from the rear.

"Oh, this is really bad," Diane murmured, vocalizing the collective thought as they swooped down to make landing.

Inside the hall, the members of the company who had stayed behind were fighting a deadly battle with boredom. Nothing of note had happened since the others had left, and the time had passed at an agonizing pace without more than the occasional muffle of a raised voice from behind the double doors.

Malia was keeping Addelus occupied with a riddle game in the corner when the prince suddenly perked up.

"Did you hear that?" he said.

Malia frowned. "Is that your riddle?"

"No, no, listen..."

The two cocked their heads, tilting their ears for any unusual sounds, but heard little more than the tapping of feet or someone's gentle snoring. They were about to return to their game when there was a distant thud, and the walls trembled just a little. Other members of the company had clearly heard it, too, as heads began to turn, looking for the source of the disturbance. It repeated itself, then again. Where was it coming from? It almost seemed to be coming from two different places...

The front doors opened then, and the rest of the company entered in a huff.

"We're under attack," Diane said as soon as she caught her breath, and a moment later there was a loud crunch of splintering wood, followed by another.

"Glory for the Sowt!" shouted someone to the east.

"In the name of the true king!" shouted someone to the north.

"Oh, no," said Malia.

Chapter C.1: Protecting the Peace
Objectives: Survive 15 Rounds. 4 civilians must survive.
Bonus Objective: Protect all civilians.
Bonus Objective: Defeat a boss.
Round 1 Deadline: 9:00pm PST, 9/26

edited 24th Sep '17 10:57:06 PM by Wryte

Was there something happening?

Zeera thought they were going to do some negotiation or planning stuff that she'd just listen to from the side. She also thought about going outside with the others, but she was kinda hungry and she wasn't sure going out was a good idea in the first place.

Stuff sounded like it was coming from deeper in the building, so Zeera moved to unlock the door.

Move to L13. Unlock Door at L12.

"Made it just in time, it seems..." Grendan muttered as he rode Heath to the door Zeera was opening.

If M12 is a valid destination, go there and prepare attack with Iron Sword; otherwise, go to M13 and defend.