War at it's most adorable. Let's Play Fire Emblem!

Sorry it's so late, I just had a surprise visit to the musical Assassins. Good show.

Anywho, when we last left off, Eliwood had been under attack by a chubby group of bandits, and had his ass saved by Hector and Oswin. By which I mean he saved Hector, with Rebecca doing some nifty sharp shooting. Knowning someone's out to get Eliwood, we go to Marquess Santaruz...

Chapter 13: In search of Truth

Lord Helmen confronts Hoodie Mc Villianson, calling him "Ephidel." He's a bit pissed that Ephidel tried to kill Eliwood and his merry band. Helmen is going to confess everything to Eliwood and apologize. Ephidel doesn't like that. Helmen, threatening to expose "The Black Fang", orders him out of the castle. Ephidel stabs him, as he has outlived his usefullness.

Eliwood and Hector, meanwhile, have arrived on the map. A green haired scotsman from across the river spots them, and promptly tells them that he's going to kill them both before they can get to Helman. Eliwood, understandably, asks who he is. Scottie doesn't wanna tell, and promptly sics his force upon us.

There's a village to the west of us, and can only be accessed by chopping down a tree. Marcus has a goal this chapter, ladies and gents. Everyone else will go south, then west, then north the the castle. Hector, Oswin, and Lowen will try for the kills this round. I do warn you, however, that if the last two start to fall behind, I have no qualms about booting them to the bench.

Before the battle, a unique young man with blue clothes and a green braid laments over getting caught in this job. He does need the money, however. Last time he didn't have money, he passed out round Caelin parts...who was that guy who saved him? Matthew? Gave him meat or something? Owe him his life?

Lupine, his obvious senses tingling, begins the battle. Lowen, riding past him, shouts how it's an honor to work with us, blah blah blah. Look, Bluebacca, go kill that guy. Maybe then we'll get something.

Rebecca weakens a bandit with a pair of arrows, and Lowen rides past her, swinging wildly. He manages to connect. Marcus, meanwhile, breaks down the snag without a problem. Everyone else just sorta files through the narrow passage to the lower-right parta the map. Rebecca doubles an attacking archer down to 1 hitpoint. Hector sorta just breaths on him, and boom, dead. Dorcas injures another archer, and Lowen finishes him off.

Oh, did I mention? Matthew and Serra are back in action! Serra heals Rebecca while she moves to bait another archer. Hector toddles into a village, and from the local Hag, he get's a land mine. The little old ladies in my neighborhood just pass out apple slices with little paper plates of apple/cinnamon dip.

Marcus visits the other village, and comes across a frantic portly blue haired man whose worried about the time. Hurrying on his trip, he drops a torch. Marcus quietly slips it into his pack.

Archer duel, leading in a dead enemy archer and Rebecca the triumphant. She finishes the other one, and Oswin takes the kill with a javalin. The man from earlier, Guy, is an agressive enemy unit, so we have to lure him in with someone tough, because the dude has a killing edge on him. *Bigger chance of a 3X damaging critical hit*

Rebecca dodges a clumsy soldier, but is surprised by the hand axe the bandit behind him is holding. Hector responds with his own axe, and Lowen finishes off Rebecca's attacker, leveling up. 1 hit point. Not inspiring confidence.

Guy, the opponent, goes after Oswin, who I've placed within range, but without weapons. He takes barely any damage. Matthew does take an arrow to the thigh, however.

Lowen misses a soldier. Twice. *Dunk* Eliwood kills an Archer with ease. Hector finishes Lowen's soldier, getting speed...and that's it. *Dunk* Matthew, spotting Guy, wanders over. Guy's surprised to see him. Matthew questions him on how the entire sword thing is going. Guy points out the fact that they are trying to kill eachother. Matthew, however, decides to call in the favor guy owes him for saving Guy's life with food. Guy didn't mean that! Sacaens never lie. Damnit...fine!

Guy, in his frustration, promptly slices a former co worker into ribbons. Oswin almost kills another soldier. So, so close. Serra levels up in Magic, though, healing Hector. The soldier goes after guy, who criticals him to an early grave with his killing edge. An archer takes aim at Serra, only to keel over in pain himself when her bone piercing shriek splits the land. Guy takes him down.

Guy now takes refuge in a forest, with a new Iron sword Bartre handed over to him. He's gonna soak in the Soldiers for a bit, and then the others will pick off the dregs.

Level up! Single point of speed. Ehh...Guy and Hector both finish bandits off half heartedly. Rebecca shows us a level up in speed, Skill, and defense. Eh...

It's at this point that my battery dies, just as I'm killing the last unit other than Scottie on the map, so ya'll are going to have to wait for the thrilling conclusion tommorow. I apologize. Really. But we all sorta can guess what's gonna happen by now, right?

Your battery died? Did the auto-save work?

The Autosave always works. For better of for worse. If you are playing on a DS, then just play the game while it is attached to the charger.

Yes, but my DS was on it's last legs. It's completely crapped out. No more power. Never ever ever. I'm gonna miss it, but I have an older gameboy, so I can keep working.

Continuing from where we left off, Boies, the Scotsman, attacks Eliwood, gladly informing Eliwood that Helman is probably dead by now. Eliwood, angry, criticals him, but doesn't manage to kill him. Hector gladly steps up to the plate now, and cleaves him up like a thanksgiving turkey. He levels up, getting.... STRENGTH AND SPEED! Hurrah! A slow start, but Hector is getting back on track.

Important to note here is that we have killed every enemy, but we have to sieze the castle to win. That means that we can wait around all we want for Supports to build. Lupine gleefully orders Serra and Matthew to stand over there next to eachother for roughly 200 turns. *I exagerate. But not by much.* In the meanwhile, Hector and Eliwood have a friendly chat about them both staying safe on the battle field, Dorcas and Bartre have a chat about Dorcas's salary, and Lupine plays twenty games of tic tac toe with Rebecca.

Serra is merilly skipping along, humming to herself. Matthew, figuring that after half an hour he should try some attempt at small talk, says hey. Serra, however, for some reason grows enraged at teh fact that it's all he has to say to her. Matthew wonders what the hell is wrong with her. She ushers him over to his side, saying that he must stay by her and protect her at all times. Lord Hector and Lupines orders. *Matthew is glaring at the pair right now. Lupine looses again to Rebecca.* Matthew points out the fact that a thief as a body gaurd is roughly as useful as a chocolate kettle. Which is fine, cause Serra can just keep healing him! Matthew, at this point, understandably questions her vows to St. Emiline. Are you sure that you don't follow some dark god?

Eliwood, impatient, finally storms into the castle. Amazingly, Helman has held on for the entire time it took Matthew to say the word "Hey." With his dying breaths, Helman apologizes. If he hadn't told Elbert about Darin's plans, this ....Go to Laus. Marquess Darin knows all. Beware the fang... and with that, he's gone. Everyone gives Lupine a dirty look.

The next day, Eliwood and Hector decide to go to Laus. Meanwhile, the castle Steward asks them what he should do. Bury Lord Helman, then stay here until the Lycian council meets. Well... on we go.

We now have the option for a sidequest, because we visited the top village. We accept.

Next time: Bumbling Merchants! Knives in the dark! Piggyback rides! All on Let's play Fire Emblem.

So will you be doing any of the Hector story chapters?

Well, I guess they don't have to much of an impact. One is just a perspective switch, a filler chapter, a Guide Dang It! for the secret ending, more filler, another perspective flip, and a resolution to a subplot (Which is a huge Tear Jerker)

I won't, because my game file, before I started this LP, was completely erased. Took down my ability to choose stories,difficulties, and my entire support library.

In other news, I've broken my toe. This probably won't impede me in Liveblogging, but it's annoying as fuck.

Actually, I just happen to have a file lined up on Hector's Story on my copy (It was there before the Lp Started, and I think it was just after I finished watching Gurren Lagann, since my tactician is named Simon). If you want, I am more than capable of filling in the gaps in Hector's Story, or noting differences between Eliwood and Hector's story (I consider Hector's Story to be the better). Just ask and it shall be done.

That'd be great, if you wanted to do it. Summaries or full on liveblog posts are fine, whatever you wanna do.

Anywho: Last time, we found there was a conspiracy arising in the territory of Laus, from a dying Lord Helman. Eliwood, Hector and Lupine set off with their troops to find out what it is. However, when making camp for the night in Caelin, they come across...

Chapter 13X: The Peddler Merlinus

Hector and Eliwood begin preparing camp for the night, so they can set off at first light tommorow morning. Marcus get's on it. By which I mean he probably shouts at Lowen and Bartre to do something, with Dorcas having already set up a coupla tents and Rebecca maybe going off for some food.

Hector wonders if they should stop by to see Lord Hausen while they're in Caelin. Serra, Matthew, Dorcas and Lupine all instantly have their full attention. Eliwood points out that they're only passing through, so it shouldn't be necessary. He would, however, like to know how Lyn is doing. Hector wonders if she's hot. Eliwood, awkwardly, admits that she's striking.

Three miles east as the crow flies, Lyn, atop a hill, sneezes. Someone is talking about her...

Hector teases Eliwood about Eliwood and Lyndis, Sitting in a tree, S-U-P-P-O-R-Ting. *It doesn't work with the extra I-N-G*

However, all shipping talk is interupted by a girlish shriek in the distance. Everyone promptly heads to check it out.

Remember merchant dude from last time? He's being harrassed by two generic bandits! He's apparently been in a chase scene with these bozo's for hours. Irritated, they decide to take the goods, and Mc Squeallers life while their at it.

Eliwood dramatically bursts on scene, followed by Hector, demanding that they let him go. Lupine, however, trips, in turn tripping up everyone else, leaving Eliwood and Hector standing infront of a pile of units. From the bottom are vacant cries of "MY TOE! MY TOE!"

Bandit boss, Puzon (What the hell ever happened to Jerry, or Phil, or Tom?) calls us a group of dandies and attacks.

Merlinus, the merchant, clings to Lupine and begs to be protected. Lupine promptly tosses him on Oswin's back, where he'll be giving a piggyback ride for the rest of the chapter.

Now, we begin in a really awkward arrangement on a little island surrounded by streams in the middle of the map. There's a village to the east, but there's also a fog of war in the area. We have to keep Merlinus alive for 7 chapters, which is pretty simple.

Hector starts us off with archer carving. He makes a tiny organ figurine of the Sphinx. Rebecca and Lowen take on a bandit, and Marcus takes a run for the village. On the west side of the island, a tree is broken down to make a bridge for enemies. A bandit attacks Marcus, and suffers for it. Then another, although he lives with 1 turn.

Oswin spears a myrmidon to death. Guy takes down a bandit with a critical hit, leveling up. Strength and speed, baby! Eliwood finishes off Marcus's bandit, leveling up for strength and everything else but speed. Lowen joins in the level ups with a... speed and luck level up. Ehh. Marcus get's 5000 gold from the villagers, a fee for our bandit extermination. Rebecca finishes off Lowen's target, and we're done this turn. Although Bartre does take over Merlinus duty somewhere in there.

Some arrangements later, Marcus is under attack by more bandits. Rebecca and Lowen take care of 1, and Eliwood, seeing one mounted on a horse, takes off with his rapier. Guy kills two attackers, Eliwood weakens another two. Oswin leaves a Horseback archer, or a nomad, with 1 HP with a surprise Javalin.

Eliwood finishes one of his targets, and Lowen gets teh second. Rebecca weakens a swordsman. Guy finishes him off, Hector pushing him aside to finish the horseman.

Also, the second chapter of the Bartre/Dorcas support is up! Dorcas has stopped in the battle to take a look at his wife's picture. He drew it himself. He'd like to draw her in more settings than just the town's square, but she can't move far on her leg. That's why he left her for this journey. He's sending the money home for her medicine. Bartre, however, decides to go ask Eliwood to raise Dorcas's wages. Dorcas continiously says no. But bartre doesn't listen.

There's 1 unit left on the map, the boss, Puzon. Hector and Matthew lure him over, and he's hit by Oswin's lance, Rebecca's arrow, and Hector's handaxe. He levels up for... Skill and Luck. *DUNK!* Lupine's head promptly attacks a tree. Serra, however, get's a magic level up healing Hector up. And we're done.

Some bandit (Not sure who, we killed everyone...) yells at us that he won't forget this, before running off. Rebecca pops an arrow into his mouth while he's shouting this, however, as Lupine has seen this before in chapter 4.

Eliwood goes to Merlinus, asking if he's alright. Merlinus, in the fruitiest fashion possible, thanks us, and requests to come with us. Hector poiints out we don't need nick nacks. He can, however, manage our inventories. Lupine, who misses the preperation screen, heartilly agrees.

"Lord Hector! Lord Eliwood! Take me into your bosoms and keep me safe forever!" ...

Everyone at this point sorta just edges away from him.

Next time: Conspiracy! Reunions! Horseback riding! Fortune telling! Allon Let's Play: Fire Emblem

Are you still required to bring Marcus into battle with you (at least, if you want a full party)? If the answer's "for about three more battles or so", you may as well plant him beside Merlinus and wait to get a few more Support conversations for your library. You might also want to think about Lowen/Marcus; it looks like the Cavallier will soon be joining him on the sidelines in favor of some of the good units in the near future.

So that's how all this support conversation stuff works. You have to park units next to each other for many turns at a time.

I've only played... maybe half, two-thirds of this game, and I'm still not sure how some things work. Like how support conversations occur, or if you're supposed to focus on a small team of badasses or level up EVERYBODY equally. (I'm starting to think the latter, which is the technique I've been doing, is a rather crappy option.)

You pick a small team of Bad Ass people.

So pick a few favorites, and focus on them, eh? Maybe I have to restart the game, then.

Another question: Is it better to Upgrade right away, or to hold off for a few levels?

Wait until your levels max out at 20 before promoting.

Damn, sounds like I really should just restart the game.

Eh, even though it can be a tricky game, it's not as bad as you might think. I didn't stick with five or six pro units, favouring instead to get as many supports as possible in a single playthrough. And, I upgraded a couple of units at around level 17 when I was in a tight pinch. I'm taking a couple of weeks off, but last time I played, I had just cleared the Desert chapter with an average character level of 15 (the Lords were maxed, though), in a way that had my units gain a bunch of experience. That sentence will make sense later, I swear.

Honestly, Fire Emblem's a pretty easy game. You'll be able to stumble through even if you make very bad mistakes (like letting Marcus hog too much exp., letting your healers die, etc.).

That is what I've been noticing, is that the normal mooks die pretty easily, even with my suboptimal party. It's the boss characters that tend to give me serious grief.

And yeah, I have been limiting Marcus' involvement in battles, unless absolutely necessary. Though most of the rest of the group has caught up, so no real issues anymore.

I also haven't been paying attention at all to what stats go up when they level. I just assumed it'd balance out in the long term. Good to hear that the game is pretty easy. Maybe at this point I'll just pick a few character I like to power through the rest of the game with.

Lupine?

Are you still alive?

OK people, I'm back. We've been without power for weeks, and there was recently a funeral in Florida. But I have bad news. The game is dead. As in it literally won't save any more. Save files erased. I'd have to get a new one, and frankly, I don't think this is gonna work out. Sorry guys.

If anyone wants to pick up the topic from here on out, by all means. I am so sorry. I may try a new liveblog sometime in the future, but it probably won't be a video game one...Really sorry guys...yah.

You mind if I start from the beginning of the game?

The stage is yours, my good man.

I may take up a LB of "The Golden Girls." Just throwing that out there.

Ouch....Geez man. Sorry abou that. You did a great job with the LP and you have my approval.

As much as I would love to do a Hector's Story playthrough, I am just way to busy. I have my own Fullmetal Alchemist Liveblog along with schoolwork to boot. Sorry.

I'll do Hector's story. Wait hey Daein you remember my Sacred Stones LP?

I'm trying text this time.

Righty-O. The hybrid approach didn't really work that well with Sacred Stones. Also, Blazing Blade is a much, much better game. Hell, you remember me from my Sword of Seals LP.

Yep. After this we will have tried every Fire Emblem game.