Fire Emblem Tropera

Grendan smiled wanly as he replied, "Thanks. Apparently, just having someone willing to listen can help, too, even if you don't take them up on the offer." He paused before adding, "Incidentally, one thing I've learned in the military is that sometimes the best way to protect people is to teach them how to protect themselves. If you can make something of that advice, then this conversation was more than worth it."

Malia looked up from opening the door to her and Astra's shared room at the sound of Azadokht's voice.

"Oh, um... well, honestly, I'm not really sure. I just... I just came from the other wing of the palace, where the Rangers are staying. I was going to confront Greham about...." She shook her head, trying to clear it. "Anyway, I saw... I saw Diane there. She was coming out of his room. It looked like they'd been talking, and... I don't know what to think, exactly."

“Huh.” Azadokht frowns. “Yeah, I’m with you; that is strange.”

Confronting her wouldn’t do any good; if there is something going on, she’s not exactly going to be upfront – and if we spy on her or rifle through her things and she - She taps herself on the head. And those aren’t exactly kind. Please stop, thoughts.

Then again, she was awfully quiet when we met the Rangers in the pass…

She shakes her head. “I don’t think we can be sure of anything without risking completely breaking her trust - and I like Diane. She’s cool.” Aza presses her lips together - and then she smiles again. “Still, I’ll keep an eye out. I see or hear anything, I’ll come straight to you, Malia. Does that sound alright?”

Edited by Existential_Tempest on Apr 6th 2019 at 10:58:27 AM

"Thanks," Malia said, still looking somewhat doubtful. "I think I'm just going to go to sleep for now."

The night passed without further incident, until an hour before sunrise when Ailes came down the hall knocking on doors.

"On your feet. Let's get out of here before the Vissans get any funny ideas."

The halls of Jormandur lay silent except for the movement of the Company. Even the night guard was half asleep on their feet as the mercenaries passed their posts, until the last one stepped out of the shadows of the gatehouse.

Corban Greham stood beside the gate, unarmed, and nodded at them.

Azadokht, more than a little tired, shakes her head to make sure that she’s seeing things correctly. Once she realises that she is, she glances – well, stares – meaningfully at Malia.

Osroes breathes, stroking a hand through Rsama’s mane, centring himself. He raises the other in answer to Greham’s nod; inquiring as to the reason for his presence, after all, would only excuse the same from the Vissan.

Edited by Existential_Tempest on Apr 13th 2019 at 2:28:50 PM

"Trying to slip out of here without saying goodbye?" Greham said, walking toward them. "And here I thought we'd become better friends than that."

He headed toward Addelus, who was standing between Diane and Malia, when Scherwiz stepped forward to block his path. "That be close enough, matey. I wouldn't be wantin' to spoil the nice time we've all had together with bloodshed, jus' when we're all getting along so famously."

"It's alright, Captain Scherwiz," Addelus said, his voice barely trembling. "Let him pass."

The pirate gave the prince a curious look over their shoulder, then smiled and shrugged, and stepped aside, allowing Greham to enter the midst of the Company and face Addelus from only a few feet away. Ranger and prince stared at one another, the twelve year old doing well not to look away from the older man.

Greham broke the silence. "When I first laid eyes on you, I didn't see much," he said. "A scared little boy, hiding behind protectors afforded him solely by his father's station."

"I'm not afraid anymore," Addelus said, puffing his chest and jutting his chin forward.

"Yes you are," Greham said. "But it's a different fear I see in your eyes now. Not fear for yourself. Fear of letting down the people who believe in you." He knelt down and leaned in, his face only inches away from Addelus' now. "And that's good. If you're not afraid to hurt those who follow you, you'll throw them away without a second thought. Hold onto that fear, Prince. It's what makes men like you and me fit to lead."

Greham stood, and offered the Prince his hand. Over the sound of Ailes' sputtering indignation, Addelus took it, and shook.

"I hope that when we meet again, Captain Greham, that it will not be as enemies," Addelus said.

Greham smiled wanly. "That choice is in your hands, kid," he said, and began to walk away, back toward the Queen's hall. Just as he reached the door, he paused, and turned back. "Oh, and I'll let Tigra know I saw you," he called out. "She'll be happy to know you're all doing well." And with that, he stepped through the door.

The door opened, and Bette stuck her head out, whispering loudly.

"Isn't Miss Tigra... you know?" She looked at the group, trying to get a read on their expressions and see if she could get to the bottom of this mystery.

After a few moments, she blinked and hurriedly added "We weren't eavesdropping... a lot...."

"Some people talk to graves. Maybe that's what he meant," Grendan replied.

“We have no way to be certain,” Osroes intones quietly, guiding Rsama forward to stand alongside Heath. The pegaz nickers, eying the wyvern; his rider strokes at his mane. “He may be toying with us –” he looks to Ailes – “or he might be telling the literal truth.” He lowers his voice to an enunciated murmur. “When we move on Vissan, we can and will find out; as of now, though, we don’t have the power to do so. That we can gain in Ephlund.” He nods to Grendan. “We must press forward.”

Azadokht almost adds something – but stops herself. After a moment – and with a curt sigh, shutting her eyes and rolling a curl of hair between her fingers – she glides to Ailes’ side, mouthing ‘When we have a moment, can we talk?’.

Edited by Existential_Tempest on Apr 17th 2019 at 7:57:40 PM

"I believe him," Malia said, staring at the door Greham had passed through. She sighed and turned away. "Or maybe I just want to badly enough. Let's go. I've got a shipment of equipment waiting at the blacksmith's."

The company made its way down the hill into the town proper, Malia leading the way toward the smith she had commissioned the afternoon before. Along the way, Ailes stepped out of the pack and into an alley, nodding to Azadokht.

The rest of the company proceeded on, arriving at a large building belching heat and smoke from its furnace. Several oblong bundles of heavy cloth wrapped in cords were waiting on racks outside, along with a barrel-chested, beer-gutted, bushy-bearded man wearing little more than pants and a thick leather apron.

"Yer order's all here, little birdie," he said, gesturing to the bundles.

Malia frowned. "This isn't right. There's too much here. I can't pay for this."

The smith shook his head. "Nah, the gold yeh already gave me covers it all. Special price. Shall we load it up for yeh?"

Malia shrugged. "I suppose." She gestured to the company's few mounts. "Load 'em up."

At Malia’s words, Osroes slides off Rsama’s back; giving him a rub on the neck and resting his forehead against his muzzle for a moment, then checking his previously wounded leg one more time (more out of paranoia than anything), he takes two coils of rope from his bag and passes them over to the smith with a nod of thanks and an appreciative smile.

With the situation seemingly in hand, the Parni stands back and leans on his two-handed lance, watching over proceedings. His eyes drift across the party – and then settle on their newest companion. He clenches his jaw.

“…sometimes the best way to protect people is to teach them how to protect themselves…”

Ah, by your divine name…

Osroes sighs, then stands up straight and, with a self-assuring clench of the fist, strides over to Amystra. “We never had a chance to speak after the fortress. That, I must say was my fault… My attention was elsewhere.” He shakes his head, purging the memories. “As of now, though, I greet you as Osroes, cataphract of the Parni, companion to Rsama and second son of Phraates, leader of the settlement Tasmag.” He raises a hand in a pseudo-wave and offers a slight smile. “May I ask who you are?”

A somewhat surprised Aza follows Ailes into the alleyway, running her hand over the axes at her belt. There, she bites her lip for a moment before explaining: “Alright… Basically, can you tell me everything you know about Ephish politics?” She glances down. “I, ah… I messed up big time yesterday – put everything at risk. I really don’t want to do that again.” Azadokht meets Ailes’ eyes with a hopeful glance. “Out of everyone, I thought you’d probably know the most.” She lets out a huff. “I’m sorry; I want to find out what I can do myself but, well, that doesn’t really work here.”

“So… Yeah.” She taps at her leg. “Sorry. I didn’t think you’d pull me aside so soon; not the ideal time or place, really…” Aza frowns, then gestures with her thumb over her shoulder. “We could go back to the party and talk as we move, if you want.” She smiles. “Not like this really needs to be private, right?” Aza asks - before pausing, then repeating more hesitantly: “Right?”

Edited by Existential_Tempest on Apr 26th 2019 at 1:01:30 PM

Ailes harrumphed and stepped back out into the street, motioning for Azadokht to walk with him.

"Like much of the known world, Ephlund was originally settled by Regish explorers long ago. King Igrothe presently sits on the throne, but in his advanced age, his son, Prince Gothrie rules the isle.

"Ephlund has strong ties with Reginbor, obviously, and had a healthy trade relationship with Frael before its fall. Prince Gothrie hasn't taken any official position on Vissan's invasion, but he must be wary of the Empire looking toward his kingdom next.

"Of particular interest to you, Ephlund is the original home of the pegasus. The Regish brought them back to the mainland after they discovered them. The explorers who settled Sowtlund likely brought some with them, which they likely traded to the Murgavians toward the end of their voyage, who traded them to your ancestors."

_________________

Back at the smithy, the last of the bundles were being loaded onto the company's mounts when the sound of snow crunching underfoot alerted Malia to someone's approach. Turning toward the Queen's Hall, she saw the Queen herself standing before them, clad in her usual massive cloak of black feathers.

"Your Highness, I should have guessed you had something to do with this," Malia said, curtsying respectfully.

"What my smiths charge is their own business," Sigalfa answered coyly. "As we discussed, I cannot provide you with weapons to turn on Vissan. I do, however, have one parting gift for you."

Malia frowned, but knelt before the Queen, holding her hand out as Sigalfa extended hers, and dropped a band of stone into Malia's palm. Malia turned it over in her fingers. It appeared to be a simple loop of polished black stone.

"This ring belonged to a great Regish hero," Sigalfa said. "According to legends, he strode into battle without fear of injury to carry his wounded comrades to safety. May it bless your company with some of its power, that you might keep your young charge safe a while longer."

"Thank you, your Highness," Malia said, curtsying again. As she looked down, there was a rush of air that threw up a cloud of powdered snow, blinding her momentarily. When she looked up again, the Queen was nowhere to be seen. Only a raven flying back toward the hall.

"Right," Malia said to the Company in general. "Let's go to Ephlund!"

Amystra glances Osroes up and down as he speaks, giving a bow of her head in return to his wave. "I am Amystra, a scholar, librarian, and, now, mage of the dark." She sighs, memories of her life's work ablaze coming unbidden to her mind.

Osroes blinks, mind turning, re-evaluating. I did not anticipate that tone. “You seem unhappy with the last of those…” He purses his lips, then offers a smile. “I can lend an ear, should you wish. We will soon be marching, so there’s time.”

Azadohkt, a little relieved that the stern Calderian agent isn’t more irritated, follows, listening. Okay – same situation as here, basically… Gothrie won’t want public requests for aid. Make those behind closed doors this time, she self-admonishes.

With Ailes’ turn of conversation, though, so do her thoughts. Aza considers. “Hmm… Most northern pegasi favour women, right? ‘Roey told me that that’s one of the reasons that we call ours differently – I mean, ‘pegasus’ and ‘pegaz’ are obviously related but, you know, as technical terms.” She takes a strand of hair in her hand and starts fiddling with it. “Could we have bred them for long enough that we managed to change their behaviour? Rsama’s a lot heavier-set than the pegasi up here so he can fly with armour… There’d have been enough time.”

The two now approach the group once more; so Azadokht catches the last words of the conversation between the Queen of Reginbor and Malia. She stops; her eyebrows rise, mouth opening a touch. Then she looks upon the Regish weaponry being loaded onto the party’s mounts.

Oh.

She looks back towards the Queen - to witness nothing. Her gaze turns to trace the sound of a bird’s wings.

Azadokht bows. “Thank you,” she whispers.

Edited by Existential_Tempest on Apr 29th 2019 at 8:59:04 PM

"I wouldn't know," Ailes grumbled. "Such beasts are not my area of expertise."

Two weeks later, the Syldra pulled in to port on the coast of Ephlund. Clouded skies hung over grey seas, and the thick evergreen forests that blanketed the hills swayed in the salty wind. Ailes disappeared into the city as soon as the ship dropped anchor, and was back by the time the Company had gotten themselves together and gathered on the pier.

"I have bad news, and good news," he said. "The bad is that Prince Gothrie is not in the palace. The good, is that he has been called away by an urgent crisis. The goddess is serving us our final fragment on a silver platter."

After a day's march, following wide earthen roads through the dense forest, the woods opened up to reveal a winding path up the side of a mountain. A river raced, fast and narrow, across the mountain's foot, and glimpses of red moved through the trees on its side.

"Vissan uniforms," Ailes said, peering into the distance. "The Empire must be readying to take Ephlund next. We've arrived just in the nick of time."

To the side of the road, in a little clearing before the break in the trees, there was a cluster of fine tents, and a few soldiers in blue uniforms trimmed with grey; the colors of Ephlund's royal house.

"Well, it seems our vacation is finally over. Time to get back to it, then," Vera said, stretching her arms up and then taking her bow into her hands. She flexed her right arm, looking at it. "We-I may have spent the better part of half a month in my room, but I managed to keep limber with some good old-fashioned calisthenics mixed in with everything else. I've got an arrow ready for each and every Vissan dog who comes close."

"Hey Mister Ailes, maybe we should check in with those people over there?" Bette asked, tapping Ailes on the shoulder and pointing at the Ephlund camp.

"Good idea, Bette," Grendan agreed. "We don't know why the Vissan are actually here, and lack of information can doom us just as surely as lack of power."

Osroes nods along with him. He itches with the temptation to steal the Vissans’ intiative and drive down the mountain, sending shafts flying before him before burying all of Rsama’s power into them with his lance. Where such a tactic would be ideal over Kambacha’s sands, however, here it would only plunge them into an impenetrable treeline; where the Parni’s horses would speed alongside him and his companion, with the Tigerlilies and over this uneven slope Rsama would outstrip all but Minerva and Heath, leaving them overextended – to be shot down, captured or slain at the enemy’s whim – and the rest exposed from the air.

He strokes at Rsama’s mane; the pegaz pushes his neck upwards towards him and he smiles. That would not do.

“Anyone have a banner or something else that we can show as we get near to the camp?” Aza asks from behind him. “We are kinda conspicuously armed to the teeth; don’t want to give the wrong impression.” She glances around with her lips’ corner curled upwards – noting Diane’s position and motions for the tenth time that day in the process. “I’d do the lightning thing I tried back at Fulric’s castle but, ah, I get the feeling that that might be too good at getting people’s attention this time.”

Edited by Existential_Tempest on Apr 30th 2019 at 9:13:14 AM

The Company headed into the clearing, greeting the soldiers that approached them carefully with hands clear of their weapons.

"We seek audience with Prince Gothrie," Ailes announced. "We have come to offer our services to his Highness."

A middle-aged man in fine but scarred leather armor strode forward. "Commander Uthred," he introduced himself. "Who are you, and why should I believe you?"

"We are-" Ailes began, but Addelus cut him off.

"It's been too long, Commander," the Prince said, stepping out of the crowd. "How is your family?"

"Prince Addelus?" Uthred said, shocked. "How is this possible? Last we heard, you'd been seen heading into the Fraelish hills nearly a year ago."

"I have strong and faithful friends," Addelus said. "And I hope I can still count Gothrie among them?"

The Ephish commander frowned uneasily. "That... may present a challenge." He gestured to the mountainside. "The Prince went to parlay with the Vissans yesterday, against my recommendations, and has not returned. If they're holding the Prince hostage, I can't send troops to engage them without risking his life."

"Then I believe we can be of service," Ailes said.

Amystra looked deep in thought for a moment, before looking up at Osroes. "I do not believe I wish to discuss it at this time, with a near-complete stranger. Perhaps at a later date, it involves... a few painful memories."

Amystra frowned. "I cannot imagine the Vissians are unaware of your reputation, no? It would stand to reason your force engaging them would be no less dangerous to the prince's life?"

Osroes nods in answer, expression now significantly more sympathetic. “I understand. Should your mind change… I am here.”

“Engaging, no,” Azadokht agrees. “Armies need resupply, though, and none of us are of Ephish cast… We could pose as travelling merchants and infiltrate their camp that way, I guess?” She lets out a huff of laughter. “Of course, the problem would be getting Prince Gothrie out. Don’t imagine we’ve got any warping magic to hand, beyond the…”

Her speech slows, then pauses for a long second. When she speaks again, it is quiet and uncharacteristically hesitant. “If we could get the Twilight Crown to Gothrie and leave it with him…” She looks to Uthred. “Sir, do we know how heavily guarded the Prince will be – would there be someone actively, literally watching him at all times?”

Edited by Existential_Tempest on May 3rd 2019 at 8:35:54 PM

"There should be no need for any of that," Ailes said. "So long as we don't wear Ephlund's colors, the enemy has no reason to think that threatening the Prince would do anything to dissuade a band of bandits."

"I pray you're right," said Uthred. "Fight well, Knights of Addelus."

_____________________

Chapter E.1: Switch Backs
Objective: Seize the Shrine
Bonus Objective: Unknown
Round 0 Deadline: 9:00pm PST, 5/6

Edited by Wryte on May 5th 2019 at 8:22:00 AM

Aza bites her lip. “Well, if you don’t think they’ll recognise us… ‘Knights of Addelus’.” She turns, inclining her head to the young royal. “I like that.”

“Much as I dislike becoming what I fight…” Osroes nods. “The two of us can pass as bandits, at least. Rsama looks alike enough to a pegasus under his armour, after all, and beyond that our wargear isn’t actually too dissimilar.” He taps at his helmet, tied to the lance on Rsama’s flank. “Better hide this, though,” he adds, unclasping his cape of purple and bundling it away into his satchel.

Edited by Existential_Tempest on May 7th 2019 at 12:57:42 PM

Round 1 Deadline: 9:00pm PST, 5/8.

Move to Q30, equip Throwing Axe, and defend.