Didn't realize they were getting so up there in levels. Dart, Florina, and Lyn need some more love so that they can catch up.
Chapter 26: Battle Before Dawn
◊: Finished.
Base: Sold a few spare items, handed Matthew a lockpick and Lucius a Torch staff, and then positioned everyone to be set out. Since I don't want to deal with any fanciness with the doors and treasure, Matthew will be going with one of the groups.
Eliwood & Merlinus: Trailed behind Lyn's group due to having no uses at the moment, but fearing the possibility of enemy reinforcements if they stayed at the entrance.
Lyn, Heath, Legault, & Florina: Headed through the eastern entrance, pushing through the few enemies in the area and recruiting Nino. It turns out that the thief in that area is a swift one, and he'd pilfered the Delphi Shield long before I got there. I pinned him in there with Lyn, and once Legault reached there, had him snag the Delphi Shield before Lyn shot him with her bow, claiming the rescue staff he took as spoils. Lyn and Florina then traveled toward Lucius' group, Lyn aiming to clean up any leftover foes and Florina carrying Nino safely through the treacherous darkness of the castle.
Lucius, Karel, Wil, and Dart: Featuring Matthew, they entered from the western door, pushing through any enemies who came to meet them and weren't distracted by Jaffar. Dart and Karel led, pushing past the mercenaries and heroes who greeted them, and then charging down south to deal with anyone else before the group split. Wil down the intermediary corridor between the eastern and western side of the castle, killing any shamans that spawned from the stairwell on that path, as well as sniping the thief from across the wall, who had presently stolen a brave lance. Dart grabbed Jaffar once everything had calmed down, since he didn't want the assassin running off and getting killed. Matt grabbed the remaining treasure, a pair of boots, while Karel and Lucius headed down toward Ursula.
Supports: Legault and Heath (B) this time around.
- Legault: Hey.
- Heath: Hm?
- Legault: Uh-oh. Looks like someone hates me. What a pity.
- Heath: You... Your name’s Legault or something, right?
- Legault: Oh, so you remembered? Hey, can I ask you something? You look like a wyvern rider, but... Why are you here?
- Heath: You know the answer to that without asking, don’t you? I’m a deserter from the knights of Bern.
- Legault: A deserter... So why’d you desert?
- Heath: Who knows... Maybe the plundering, the wholesale slaughter of innocent people... Those are both part of a deserter’s pedigree, are they not?
- Legault: No, not you. Your eyes aren’t so corrupt. You have pride. Your eyes tell me that you’re sure what you do is right.
- Heath: Why...uh...
- Legault: Hm?
- Heath: Why are you here?
- Legault: Now that is a long story. Put simply...I’m like you... I fled from an organization, too.
- Heath: Was it the Black Fang?
- Legault: Yep. I’m a fugitive, and you’re a deserter. Looks like you and I were made for each other.
- Heath: ...Speak for yourself.
Ursula: Fought Karel, whom she pelted with Bolting charges from afar as he slaughtered her guards one by one. Lucius helped him weather the onslaught both with a barrier and with periodic heals, and soon Karel had reached Ursula herself. With a Longsword, Karel struck her after she had equipped an Elfire tome, and they went three rounds before she fell, trading blows evenly throughout the exchange.
Vs Ursula: Lucius saw the newest addition to their entourage slowly but surely approach that strange woman they had glimpsed in the shadows. A Torch staff charge had illuminated the darkness for a moment, and alongside a few of the enemy guards, they witnessed for a fleeting moment a woman astride a white horse, who appeared to be commanding the assault. Worried about what dangers the shadows would hold for a lone fighter, Lucius followed Karel in his trek.
They both sensed magic building, and Lucius quickly pulled forth his Barrier staff, shielding the swordsman just as a streak of lightning crashed down upon him.
"It seems she has some means by which to see us in the shadows..."
Karel was none the worse for wear from the strike, and quickly sprinted through the darkness that had fallen as the Torch staff weakened. Lucius ran to keep up, witnessing Karel sheath and draw a new sword in one swift motion as a few guards intercepted him. Lucius noticed through the shadows that the swordsman seemed displeased by their appearance. A pair of armored soldiers, they thrust their lances at him, but in an instant he had cut them down with a lancereaving sword, and continued his advance. Another bolt of lightning fell, but this time Karel avoided the strike. Karel drew within sight range of the enemy commander, a blue-haired woman armed with a pair of tomes.
Drawing a longsword, a look of cruel anticipation now replacing his usually empty mask, Karel charged the woman. Lucius could only stare on in awe at the brutal efficiency with which the swordsman did his work.
"It is like watching a beast rend apart its prey..."
Ursula tried to wipe out her new target instantly with an enormous blast of flame, but Karel avoided the strike for the most part, suffering only minor burns on his left side as he retaliated. Karel's first sword stroke dug into leg of Ursula's mount, forcing the beast to hobble weakly just to stay standing. A second strike cut into the outside of it's rear leg, destabilizing the beast and causing it to fall. Simultaneously escaping her mount and attacking, Ursula sent forth a fireball where Karel had just been standing. He backstepped away from the explosion, but was still forced back by the blast, and ended up sliding near Lucius, who promptly withdrew a healing staff and cured the worse burns in the short time he had before Karel charged again. The woman threw down a fireball at where Karel sprinted toward and quickly began incanting another spell. Before she had the chance to finish, however, she was assailed by Karel, leaping through the pillar of fire, blade poised to run her through. It was over in an instant from there, and Lucius witnessed Karel withdrawing his blade from the assassin's throat as she fell, utter relish splayed across his face.
"No, a wild beast would not have been this detailed in its strikes, nor as joyous come the kill. This man can only be called a demon."
Lucius calmly used his staff to once more heal the mans burns, pushing aside his questions and fears for now, so that the mission could be complete.
Afterwards: Zephiel is saved, and the lords spare Jaffar for his mercy with regards to the prince. He taunts them, and Hector almost takes the bait, but Eliwood calms him and convinces Jaffar and Nino to join them. Limstella drains Ursula's quintessence, and the lords are brought to see Helene. Before receiving the route to the Shrine of Seals Eliwood reprimands Helene for her cold-heartedness toward her own sons life. Murdock appears and saves the day, explaining the situation, and Helene agrees to give us the path to the Shrine of Seals, as well as a Heaven Seal. Meanwhile, she heads home and hopes to patch things up with Desmond for the sake of the family (sad to say this doesn't stick).
Up Next: Night of Farewells, where we accompany Jaffar and Nino in killing Sonia in the Water Temple, and receive a Fell contract for our pal Legault.
