I gave Lyn the body ring to improve her low con; Guy used the goddess icon from Renault to get even more hax dodging skills, since he'll be fighting Lloyd. Afa's Drops are probably going to Pent or Louise because they're prepromotes, but mostly because they're cool and I want them on the Battle History screen.
- Tactics — 4 stars
- Survival — 5 stars
- Funds — 4 stars
- Exp — 1 star
- Combat — 5 stars
Guess who we met in the mountains? Sain! He's looking for General Wallace, who is needed back in Caelin. With regret, he says he can't stay with us long...is Sain actually showing responsibility?
Pent and Louise are off to the prince's coming-of-age ceremony. Louise is distantly related to the queen, and they've volunteered to use that connection to gather information for us. No matter what, Pent promises not to reveal our existence or origin if their motives are discovered.
While they smile and bow their way through the hidden knives of court politics, we can't just sit and twiddle our thumbs. At Legault's suggestion, we're hunting rumours of the Black Fang in a small border town just out of the mountains.
Lyn hides a grin as we intentionally stride ahead of Eli and Ninian. She's enjoying playing matchmaker, but I don't think she's noticed her own attraction to Hector yet...
So much for traveling incognito.
A cloaked figure leaning against a tree straightens up as we approach, and announces we're in the domain of Lloyd, the White Wolf, one of the Four Fangs. We will have the honor of dying at his blade—our throats ripped out, as he puts it. The messenger vanishes into the mist, and I remember why I don't like the stuff as much as I used to...
We're not alone though. A loud bellow echoes across the moor: "...You cowards, waiting there in the fog!! My name is Wallace! The boldest knight in all Caelin (wherever it is)! If you're not afraid to die, show yourselves!!! Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!" Does he even know what's going on?
Wallace: Wallace fights with the joy of battle in his eyes, the ring of steel when he strikes audible as far away as Merlinus' tent. Eventually the galloping Sain arrives and persuades him to rein it in before he wanders too close to Lloyd.
Sain: Ballistae tear holes in the earth around him, but he bravely thunders on to rescue Wallace—if he needs rescuing. A few arrows strike him, but before falling from the saddle he manages to down an elixir.
Lyn: Visits a village to get an Earth Seal from an old man who lampshades his willingness to hand it over to a complete stranger.
Matthew: Lights our path with the last torch, and investigates a house with a green-haired girl. She almost throws him out; apparently he's disturbing the rest of an injured man. (Matthew, so close to Leila's killer...)
Oswin: Buys a lancereaver and swordreaver.
Hector: Does nothing but follow Lyn.
Legault: "...Who? Oh, it's you, is it, Montago? You caught me unawares and looking stupid. It's just that I AM a former Black Fang member. And I was a bit wrapped up in some silly emotions. Nothing for you to worry about. Direct me as you will."
Legault slips off to try and reason with Lloyd. Attempting to sneak around a wyvern patrol, he creeps by a house just north of our position and overhears a seditious soldier:
"I will repeat it as often as necessary, Lord Murdock! If we let the king's tyranny continue, Bern will—"
"Hold your tongue."
"But—"
"Be still."
"Is someone there?"''
"Oh!" Hastily retreating, Legault is spotted by the wyverns and forced into battle, still carrying the Light Brand. He cannot reach Lloyd now...
Bartre: Chops down a tree and overwhelms a bishop with the brave axe, letting the entire group, save Legault, flee to the east from the White Wolf.
He takes a moment while the others cross the ersatz bridge to pin a Hero Crest on his chest, unlimber an enormous bow, and declare that he's been studying archery.
This sounds dangerous for all concerned, so I exile him to the backfield to extract Legault. Which he does with great glee and a hail of arrows.
Guy: Takes the lead, dodging and slicing his way through everything thrown at him with the silver blade until he reaches Lloyd. This, nerverackingly, is his real, possibly final, test of skill—he's fought other powerful opponents, like Eubans, but never a true swordmaster.
Hector, Lyn, and Lloyd's other troops watch with bated breath, forgetting even to fight each other or intervene in the duel...
I sneezed, and it was over. With Guy's blade at his throat, the White Wolf dropped his weapon and inclined his head in defeat.
8 turns base, +4 penalty for Legault fighting/Wallace visiting top village. After this he really is done for at least the next two chapters. I hope to make up some of my 16 lost turns in the next episode; Farina FTW. Sorry if I'm violating the spirit of the draft, but hey, I'm having fun! It's not Fire Emblem without a commando thief!
MVP: Guy, because I don't think anybody else would have survived fighting Lloyd or been able to defeat him in one hit, which would have likely resulted in death from the horde of minions around him. BTW, Guy amazingly has one use left of his original killing edge. Man, I've really been miserly with that thing.
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