woman 1
(smiles) What an honour for the lady of House
Heron herself to visit our village,
not even merchants come out here!
woman 2
(smiles) She carries herself with none of the usual
noble arrogance, so polite and earnest.
woman 1
More importantly, she always pays
more than is needed. Such generosity.
woman 2
I can foresee a good future
if she were to become heir.
woman 1
That would require turning over centuries
of tradition, but if anyone can, it'd be her.
woman 2
She might need to learn better
money management though.
(Rosetta gives candy to a child.)
boy
(smiles) That was super sweet!
rosetta
(smiles) You can have another, but there's
a favour I'd kindly ask of you.
boy
What is it,
Lady Rosetta?
rosetta
You can just call me big sister,
I care little for titles.
Have you seen a red-haired man
come through from out of town?
boy
Oh yeah, Harry came back recently!
He said specifically to not tell
anyone where he went though...
rosetta
He probably means not to tell anyone
dangerous, but I'm not, right?
boy
Yeah!
rosetta
Just point to me on this map
about where you think he went.
boy
Hmm... About here. He hides there
a lot everytime he comes back.
rosetta
You can have a third chocolate
for being such a good kid.
boy
You're the best,
big sister!
(Rosetta leaves.)
cherise
(smirks) You're resorting to tricking kids.
There's truly no low the good Lady
Rosetta will not sink to get her way.
rosetta
(frowns) Shush. It was an
honourable transaction.
cherise
Sure, sure, whatever you say.
Let's catch this vile criminal before
he can change his name again.
(Rosetta and Cherise step away from the village.)
cherise
It never ceases to amaze me how the
people adore you for being a regular person.
You don't see people singing my praises
when I wave to old ladies down the street.
rosetta
You'll have to thank all my
awful predecessors for that.
House Heron does not have a
history of... being regular people.
cherise
It may have taken a few centuries,
but House Heron finally got there.
The first of the family to figure out
how to be liked by the commonfolk.
rosetta
I'm not above feeling good
about being admired, but these praises are about
inconsequential matters.
I hope to one day see my
praises be about what I achieve, to better the lives of all those
under our house's banner.
cherise
Be sure to also cure poverty and wipe
out illness while you're doing that.
rosetta
Maybe I will do that, Instructor. I can
accomplish a lot in seventy years.
cherise
I can't figure out how to sarcastically
reply to that level of sincerity.
(Rosetta and Cherise approach a trickster hiding in a hovel.)
rosetta
Heavybread, formerly known as The
Stabber, formerly known as Killman, formerly known as Harry, it's a
pleasure to finally meet you.
heavybread
Well, well. What an honour for the lady of the
house herself to personally come after me.
What bloody methods did you use to find me?
rosetta
You were sold out for three
pieces of chocolate.
heavybread
Lies!
rosetta
It's the honest truth,
as harsh as it is.
heavybread
You're mad to come on your lonesome.
You know well I've slain countless, including that head retainer of yours.
What makes you confident enough to
test your blade against mine?
rosetta
I'm not, but it won't be me.
Instructor, all yours.
cherise
I feel the title of “Instructor” conflicts
with the nature of that request, being sent out like some hired muscle.
rosetta
Maybe you can think of it
a different way, Instructor.
You're demonstrating techniques
to me in a practical setting.
cherise
Okay, my vanity
is satisfied.
heavybread
You think so little
of me that-
(Cherise strikes Heavybread several times before he can react.)
heavybread
What sort of monster
are you?
cherise
This would be a regular workout
if I was still on the Crescent.
heavybread
Are you proud of yourself, Heron Lady?
Sending your thug to do your dirty work?
rosetta
My instructor.
cherise
Thank you.
rosetta
I never intended you harm. Instead,
I'm here to offer you employment.
heavybread
And that involved
beating me up?
rosetta
You would have just thought it was
some ploy if I laid it to you upfront.
heavybread
Don't mean me harm, my left
buttock. My everything hurts.
cherise
It took me a lot of effort to
be non-lethal, you know.
Alright, my job is done.
You two can yap all you want.
(Cherise leaves.)
rosetta
Our Spymaster looked into your history.
Your killings have made you infamous, but curiously, each victim was guilty of quite
the array of sins, many not known publically.
We did not know what heinous deeds
our retainer had done in our name, until evidence was found after you slew him.
You don't pick victims indiscriminately, you operate on a justice system.
You never hoard your ill-gotten gains, instead it finds their way to poorer places.
heavybread
That's a nice person you're talking
about, but that person ain't me.
I killed those men for their gold, I just
wanted a less sympathetic victim.
rosetta
However, you could've chosen easier
targets, but you always refrained.
Now that our retainer is dead, we need
a replacement, which brings us to you.
heavybread
Whoever kills a retainer of your house gets
in line to replace them? Messed up system.
rosetta
Don't be ridiculous. It was just a coincidence
this would bring you to my attention.
His replacement must be one skilled in blade
and subterfuge, but many satisfy this.
What I also desired was one in touch with
the needs of the people, strong principles, and critically, to be uninfluenced by various
unsavoury forces within our house.
To show my sincerity, I promise you that
you can walk away even if you decline.
I'll sort out something with my Lord Father.
heavybread
... I'm not so prideful to admit that a warm
roof and good pay does not appeal to me.
And not being hunted by House Heron would
be great. Very well, I'll be your attack dog.
rosetta
Retainer.
heavybread
Same deal. I will lay my terms upfront, I draw
the line at the defenceless or the innocent.
rosetta
Those are easy
terms to fulfil.
(Cherise returns.)
Cherise
You two done yapping yet?
We've got trouble.
rosetta
... I hear...
Is that screaming?
heavybread
From the direction of the village?
But there are no bandits near here.
(Berserkers surround Rosetta.)
barry
Hoo hee hoo, Barry the Big-Brained Bandit
is always right. I told you we'd find her here.
cherise
There's far too many of them, Young Lady!
I'll hold them off here, go! Save yourself!
rosetta
Your first assignment comes fast,
Heavybread. Let's move!
(Rosetta and Heavybread escape.)
heavybread
You're going to
leave her there?
rosetta
She likes being overly dramatic.
Those bandits stand no chance
against her. We'd get in the way.
heavybread
I can believe that. Stuff her,
the village comes first anyways.
rosetta
Let's deal with these ruffians before
they can cause any more damage.
(Pirates have landed on the shore of the village.)
pirate 1
These soft mainlanders are
little match for our strength.
They never had to contend with
the harshness of the Crescent.
pirate 2
They got good stuff. Even
the bread tastes better here.
pirate 1
They deserve to get their stuff taken.
Have it so much better than us.
poindexter
Don't forget what we're here for!
If we miss our mark because you were
too busy pillaging, I'll have your hides.
pirate 2
Cap'n! There she is!
poindexter
All is according to plan.
heavybread
Where in Elis's name did all these people
pop up from? What have they done?
rosetta
Identify yourselves,
lowlives!
poindexter
Identify myself I shall. My name is
Poindexter, the Tactical Typhoon, the greatest mind of the Crescent.
rosetta
Your ilk hail from the Crescent?
Do you know the consequences of your
crimes against House Heron's citizens?
poindexter
That is beyond my concerns.
You've been dancing in the palm
of my hand this entire time.
I knew you'd personally come to
this village to apprehend the killer.
I knew that the infamous swordmaster
would be lured away by a good fight.
I knew you'd come running to save the
village, so known you are for kindness.
I didn't expect you to recruit him,
but that's entirely unimportant.
You're hopelessly outmatched,
at the mercy of my brilliant mind.
rosetta
If you're so confident,
who has ordered this attack?
poindexter
The King, of course. He is paying a king's
ransom to get this done, discreetly.
heavybread
That worked?
Dumbass.
rosetta
This coward of a king meekly submits
to the will of the noble houses, only exerting his authority by sending
cloaks and daggers after innocent folk!
Ellerie was right about one thing, this
wretch does not deserve the throne.
poindexter
I care little about these Mainland politics,
I follow the gold. Now I give you a choice.
Surrender, and these villagers get to live.
Let's put your reputation to the test.
young woman
Please! Surrender yourself!
It's a hopeless battle anyway!
rosetta
... Heavybread.
You understand, don't you?
heavybread
I'm no fool, Lady.
Do what you must.
rosetta
My life is not a thing to be negotiated.
I offer you the same terms, release
these villagers, and I'll let you live.
young woman
No!
poindexter
I suspected this would be the result,
but it was still worth an attempt.
Golden Scarab Formation,
crush this foolish noblewoman.
(Poindexter kills the hostage.)
heavybread
...
rosetta
Let it be known, that I shall spare no
one who abetted in this massacre.
All victims of this tragedy, I promise you
your families shall be looked after.
(A knight, seer, and wayfarer arrive behind Rosetta.)
speedwell
The Spymaster informed us about
this vile ambush only this morning.
The full force of the Heron Knights is
soon to arrive. Please get to safety.
rosetta
I politely refuse, Sir. This village is under my
protection, the crimes were under my watch.
I shall personally bring these invaders to
justice so no more innocents may be harmed.
speedwell
Justice will be carried out, Young Lady.
You need not put yourself in harm's way.
rosetta
If I can not even defeat common criminals,
how can I possibly lead House Heron?
Sir, my mind is set. I will fight this battle.
speedwell
To take a disadvantageous
battle is foolishness, but you were always my
most overachieving student.
Very well, Young Lady! Show
me all that you have learned!
the curate
I have so missed a good bloodbath.
Say the word, Young Lady, and blood
shall be spilled in the name of He.
encroacher
Ignore this cretin. Young Lady, if your pretty
face gets marred, it's our skin on the line.
rosetta
I understand your concerns, but I've been trained by the best
swordmaster this side of the continent.
encroacher
If I may insist-
rosetta
There is no more time for discussion!
Glory to House Heron! Charge!
(The Curate looks at Heavybread.)
the curate
This pathetic looking thing is
what we came all the way for?
heavybread
You have a problem with that?
the curate
You're a maggot compared to him.
I advise you to not step into
his shoes if you value your life.
heavybread
You were buddy-buddy with that guy, huh?
Did you also do the heinous things he did?
Did ol' me come and ruin your fun?
the curate
You must have tricked him, used poison.
You could not have won in a fair fight.
One wrong move, and I'll see your flayed
corpse sacrificed in his honour.
speedwell
What in Elis's name are you two doing?
You heard the Young Lady!
narrator
Each civilian saved will cause
that unit to get a second action.