Opening
Letter
Dear Mother,
The younger me, at Auresil's high tables,
could not have imagined her future self
to sink as low as to rob a tomb.
It is what it is. Worry not, Mother. My spirit
is not daunted even with these setbacks.
If this is where my fate lies, so be it.
Your loving daughter,
Ellerie
narrator
Would you like to go to a quick
tutorial to adjust to new mechanics?
(This is recommended even if
you are familiar with Fire Emblem.)
(Answering yes will take you to the
tutorial.)
(Ellerie and Oriana are waiting in a tunnel. They are approached by Tower and Lindros.)
ellerie
There you two are. I was starting
to worry I'd seen the last of you.
oriana
That was one hell of an explosion.
Lindros, are you alright to carry on?
lindros
Heh, that was nothing.
I'll *cough* survive.
ellerie
Great job with the tunnel collapse. Turns
out the tireless undead do have limits!
tower
Don't get comfortable after a minor
success in this mess. Where is Pomelo?
ellerie
Pomelo went forward to look for an
exit while we came back to help.
oriana
He's gone ahead in his...
boat thing, whatever it is.
tower
Who in their right mind brings a
vehicle into a bloody closed space?
lindros
You don't appreciate the versatile
nature of his genius creation, Tower.
Gah, a dive into an ancient tomb
was bound to end in disaster.
tower
No, it wasn't. Navigating a tomb like this
would've been child's play to Valen's gang.
ellerie
...
oriana
That's an unfair comparison, Tower.
Valen was one of the best, while
Ellerie's new to this line of work.
Is that not why we chose this
as a practice expedition?
tower
Fair comparisons hardly matter if we end
up dead. Faltering at a mere practice run!
Let me remind you that the Crescent has
swallowed up many an inexperienced crew.
lindros
We can point fingers later. Let's
focus on not being dead first.
tower
Glad you could impart such
incredible wisdom upon us.
oriana
Lindros is right. Now is really not
the time. Are you feeling better?
lindros
I've recovered enough.
Ready to go.
ellerie
Then let's move. Pomelo
better have found sunlight.
(Two undead emerge from the tunnel ahead. They attack, but Oriana dodges the blow, and together with Tower defeats them easily. Pomelo emerges after the undead.)
pomelo
Good news, found an
alternate way out.
ellerie
Thank Elis it's not a dead end.
Trapped underground is probably
my least favourite way to die.
pomelo
Bad news is that it goes through a pirate
hideout. And we ain't talking the jolly ones.
ellerie
First the horse thieves, then the brigands,
then the other group of bandits, then this.
tower
What were you expecting, a beach holiday?
This is the average day on the Crescent.
ellerie
Then how does anyone live here?
How are there even people left to rob?
tower
Because people like you who don't take
heed of the rumors keep showing up.
lindros
I can't stand another minute of
this dark and confined deathtrap.
Go use your diplomatic talents and
tell these pirates to let us through.
pomelo
I think I just overheard them talking about
cutting up “fat lambs” from the Mainland.
ellerie
If it comes down to it, I'll take them over the
undead. At least humans bleed when stabbed.
tower
Any rabble can grab a hatchet and
call themselves a pirate these days.
I've heard no news of pirates in these
parts. They'll be subpar at best.
ellerie
Maybe we should've practiced on them
instead of going into the depths of hell.
pirate
... How did my life come to this?
Should I have made better friends?
Not stabbed that shopkeeper even
if she deserved it for those prices?
I should've been great. Not drinking
to death in this cave, surrounded by-
(Ellerie's crew barges into the hideout.)
pirate
Got a little lost? This ain't your
back garden, Mainlander whelp.
ellerie
How did you even- Look,
we're just passing through.
pirate
WE GOT INTRUDERS, LADS!
Let's get 'em good!
(The pirate takes formation.)
ellerie
Diplomacy has failed.
tower
You should've let me open.
ellerie
I should've. If we couldn't get any
good loot from that cursed tomb,
maybe these pirates can make up
for all this wasted time and effort!
tower
So there's a bit of fire
in you after all.
ellerie
Really. That's what gets me
your one word of approval?
(The pirate leader speaks to an armored knight.)
bolgo
Intruders, you say? Heh, my little Betty
has been a bit peckish lately.
It'll only take some time for her to
come out of her cave to feast!
(The knight fidgets.)
mince
Hey, Captain, I need to... err... go do my
business, yeah! I'll be a few minutes.
bolgo
Bring some of the fresh brew back with you!
Bolgo hasn't had brew this good for years!
mince
Alright, on it, Chief!
(Bolgo leaves and Mince backs away.)
mince
Damn, it's getting late! Tower is
going to have my hide if I-
Hmm, what are the chances
these intruders are my crew?
(Mince runs over to the crew.)
mince
Watch where you're pointing
that thing! It's Mince!
ellerie
Sorry, it's been a stressful time.
The hell are you doing here, Mince?
mince
Thought you'd be happier to see me.
These goons were more than happy to have
a man who knew the right amount of salt.
ellerie
You should take more care with what
friends you make, but glad you're here.
We're in a hell of a spot right now.
mince
If there's one thing I can do besides cook,
it's taking a beating. You can count on me.
narrator
Mechanical changes and other controls
are explained in the Guide Menu.
Weapon triangle (W△) is +/- 3 Dmg
and 30 hit at advantage/disadvantage.
All units can open chests and doors
by using those things called “hands.”
New Guide Entries
The Mainland
The Kingdom of Auresil is the
largest known state after the
old civilisations fell. Most of the
settlers of the Crescent were
once its people.
In recent years, the authority
of the crown has been greatly
weakened by a bloody civil war
wiping out most of the lineage
and the power vacuum being
filled by the noble houses.
The Luminous Era
On some terrible day a few
centuries ago, the Gods came
down and claimed the world
and humanity as their own.
Their whims allowed the land
to prosper and technology to
progress, yet just as easily,
cities were brought to ruin
for the pettiest reasons.
There is no recorded history
before their arrival. Did the
Gods purposefully wipe the
slate clean? Who knows
what was lost?
Ending
(The crew escapes to the surface and takes shelter in a nearby ruined house.)
ellerie
No undead or pirate appears
to have followed us.
I think we're safe for now.
lindros
I am never going on any of these expeditions
again. I'm going to have a bit of a lie down.
Call me if you need me. Preferably not.
(Lindros leaves.)
tower
Well, what do we have to
show for that experience?
ellerie
Either someone has already
raided this place, or whoever built this tomb spent
all their gold on the skeletons.
We'll set aside some as public
funds, and we'll split the rest.
(Ellerie reveals 1000 gold.)
oriana
You really have to wonder why someone
just builds a tomb packed with undead
on an island barely even on the map.
ellerie
Maybe they thought it would be funny
to mess up some future tomb raider.
Because they sure aren't guarding much.
tower
Not much point wondering now; we've still
pillaged their place of rest regardless.
ellerie
I'm surprised you're willing to go along with
this. Was this not against your teachings?
tower
What use do the dead have for wealth?
Far better to have it benefit the living.
oriana
That's Tower for you. Anything he does, he
can justify in some form. Even looting tombs.
tower
You're making it sound like I'm
using this as an excuse.
oriana
Oh, I wouldn't say that, just that your faith
lines up well with our more dubious actions.
ellerie
I can't say I'm sorry to hear that.
Hmm, is it a trick of the light, or is that fancy sword on the pile
there actually glowing? Woah!
(Ellerie starts.)
tower
This feeling...
Some kind of divine power?
???
For thousands of years, I've slumbered,
awaiting a worthy bearer...
Arise, and fulfil your destiny!
tower
Allow me.
(As the sword approaches Ellerie, Tower strikes it with a critical hit, destroying it.)
sword
SYSTEM ERROR. INITIATE
CRASH REPORT: Bullshit.
Broken Sword
Makes for a great paperweight.
tower
Good riddance.
ellerie
The magic... It's gone. It seems to
be just a regular sword now.
oriana
That was brutal, Tower. You
didn't even give it a chance.
tower
It's an old world artifact. There's
no telling what those things will do.
ellerie
What a waste, really. That would
have sold for a fortune.
(Lindros rushes over.)
lindros
Do you understand what you've done?
That wasn't just some treasure,
that was an actual sentient artifact,
undiscovered for several centuries!
tower
I stand by my decision. Relics of the
gods are a risk I am not willing to take.
lindros
I don't think you understand.
The secrets that could be discovered, the
knowledge it possesses, gone in an instant!
The Sages at Oakhall would have sold
their first born for such an opportunity!
tower
And I understand that I stand by my
decision. You haven't seen a thing, boy.
If you knew what these artifacts could do,
you wouldn't be so quick to lay blame.
lindros
Who are you to judge what risk should
and should not be taken?
Archsage Parion, through his study
and disassembling of such an artifact, accelerated advancements in magic by
three decades! Is that not a worthy risk?
oriana
Please, everyone, calm yourself.
No use thinking about it now.
I say we should camp here for the night.
Everyone has had enough for the day.
ellerie
No disagreement from me.
Take a nice rest Lindros.
I'm sure some good stew will
cheer you up in a bit.
lindros
We'll see, I doubt it.
(The group disperses. Ellerie approaches Pomelo.)
ellerie
What a mess. Pomelo, do you think we have
what it takes to tackle the Workshop?
pomelo
You're asking me? I'm not as
experienced as Oriana or Tower.
ellerie
It's that... You know how Tower is.
And I think Oriana is coddling me slightly.
I don't think she'll say what she thinks.
pomelo
By today's standards, not looking good.
We were undermanned and undergeared, and the fact you tripped half the security
didn't help.
But we've got time to gear up, so a futile task today won't be tomorrow.
ellerie
Can't say that was a surprising answer,
but I appreciate the honesty.
pomelo
To your credit, I originally thought you were
some noble with more money than sense.
You kept a cool head even after things went
straight south, so glad that ain't the case.
ellerie
I'm honoured that I've
exceeded such a low bar.
pomelo
If it's any reassurance, by how much you're
paying for the Seahawk and my services,
(smiles) I am very happy to call you Captain.
ellerie
Thanks?
pomelo
(serious) In all seriousness, you don't seem like
the type to be repeating mistakes.
That's good in my books.
ellerie
(smirks) Ha, and you're not just saying that
because I'm paying your wages?
pomelo
(smirks) A minor influence,
perhaps.
Later that night
mince
Can't sleep?
ellerie
No, just woke up.
I can take the next watch.
mince
Don't sweat it. I got plenty of rest while
everyone was getting mobbed by skeletons.
ellerie
All this is a bit odd. Why would Tower,
who despises the relics, be in the
adventuring work hunting for them?
And with how much Oriana talks about
her family, you'd think a career like this
is the last thing she'd be taking.
mince
You could say the same for us, can't you?
Maybe they've fallen on hard times.
Everyone's got their circumstances.
ellerie
I guess so. ... It's funny, ain't it? We
hardly spoke in the Princess's services,
but after all that happened, you're the
only one I can really count on.
mince
Us conspirators need to stick together.
Even if it's just the two of us left.
ellerie
I'm sorry for dragging you into this. You
didn't need to come with me all this way.
mince
Really, it's nothing. From chef to
knight, knight to adventurer, life's
all about living new experiences.
ellerie
I wish I could say the same. I do miss
home, even if I thought I hated it.
mince
Looking a bit glum. A bit of Mince's
special brew will warm both your
stomach and your heart!
ellerie
I'll take you up
on the offer.
Chef's Brew
This is the good stuff.
Restores 15 HP.
mince
Well, time to scrub the pot.
Say, this thing is pretty sturdy...
I just got a really good idea!
Pot Battle Art
If equipped, Swarp grants 2nd action
for -1 use. +10 Def. Auto-repair. Mince Only.
Character Descriptions
Ellerie
Yours truly, a former bureaucrat, now
Captain of the Seahawk. I am down on
my luck now, but that will change.
Supplier
Hardy individuals who really pull their
weight. Rather like me.
Oriana
The crew quartermaster and caretaker.
Soft-spoken, but terrifying when angered.
An odd skillset for a supposed dancer.
Tower
A stern and intimidating priest who
brings peace with an axe. There's a soft
heart beneath all that carapace, I hope.
Lindros
A graduate mage who I've hired as a
runes expert for a bargain price. Says
the word “knowledge” 5 times a day.
Pomelo
An affable and optimistic shipwright.
In charge of maintaining the ship and
navigation. More of a captain than me.
[Lindros & Pomelo have B-rank support with each other.]
Mince
A former chef who was knighted for
his services. Performs both duties
well, though he is a bit full of himself.
Bolgo
Some vagabond playing at being
a pirate. Has a pet spider for
reasons known only to Elis.
Betty
Enjoys playing fetch and the screams of
the mortally wounded.
Bolgo's Boys
You don't mess with Bolgo's boys,
or else it'll be your dem-oi-se.
Tomb Terror
Incredibly unhappy to be robbed, and
even more so for being woken up.