Opening
narrator
If the skill of generals are equal, the side
with the most fliers shall achieve victory.
If their fliers are equal, the side with
the most cavalry shall achieve victory.
-Of Victory and Defeat
This book doesn't discuss the
merits of heavy infantry much.
-Ivadne's annotations
The foolish general trusts heavy armour.
The wise general raises a herd of pegasi.
-Of Victory and Defeat
Antiquated trash.
-Ivadne's annotations
(Jeziel and Johnny spices come to a head with Daygon's airship at Lake Lotugyr.)
jeziel
“This Lord Heron was yet to be born when I
made my name. He dares to challenge me?"
johnny spices
“Lads, this isn't a fight that we're winning.
We just have to buy time for the Chief."
daygon
“Herald, see to it that these pathetic peons
know of my arrival and their imminent demise."
cherise
I'd hardly expect some noblewoman
to climb so high in Irinde of all places, so known for their martial culture.
I've only seen Ellerie in passing, but
she struck me as a demure figure.
Not someone who would not only
survive, but thrive in the Crescent.
rosetta
She always hid her determination,
bitterness and seething rage while
within House Heron's cruel walls.
The Ellerie I know could always
make up for what she lacked in
talent and support with raw effort.
cherise
How did the family's black sheep get
to know the lady of the house so well?
You ought to have hated each other,
given the sins of the parents.
rosetta
We both wanted to be more than
what we were born to be.
Her, more than a bastard, me,
more than a pawn for marriage.
... It's not so long ago that
Father thought nothing of me.
I could not have achieved my
position without Ellerie's schemes, and Ellerie could not have safely
left the house without my help.
cherise
Fascinating. I did not know of her
involvement in your rise to power.
Why have I hardly heard of her
in my time at House Heron?
rosetta
She entered the Princess's court and
was enthralled by her reckless ambitions.
She wished to restore imperial power
over the country's commerce, redistribute land held by the nobility,
and restructure imperial bureaucracy.
Could she not see she would make
enemies of half the country's leaders, or was she delusional enough
to think she could prevail?
I tried warning Ellerie of this,
but she would hear none of it.
ellerie
...cut away the greedy hands of the houses, return land ownership to the people and
remove the leeches in the Imperial Court!
Even if it was an uphill battle, is it not a
worthy goal? But Rosetta did not see that.
krynia
But Chief, she's the heir to
one of those noble houses.
Doesn't that automatically
make her your enemy?
ellerie
... Ha. We had come
so far together, Krynia.
I truly believed our friendship
was worth more than that.
This would cost me dearly.
cherise
She told you this, knowing you aimed
to become heir to House Heron?
A little too trusting, for someone
who is allegedly a skilled conniver.
rosetta
She trusted me still, despite
our difference in position.
I knew the Princess's coup
was destined to fail.
I would use this information
to bargain with the new king, to see Ellerie's life be spared.
cherise
This is also when your position within
House Heron was reinforced, was it not?
You must have gotten good value
out of this betrayal, Young Lady.
rosetta
You don't mince your words, Instructor.
Their downfall was inevitable, nonetheless.
While it was to help Ellerie, I ... did take
advantage of this, as shameful as it was.
cherise
It's not dissimilar to how politics tend
to work on the Crescent. I approve.
ellerie
She had the audacity to pretend as
if it was for my life to be spared, as if she was extending to me a mercy.
As if I would not be executed anyway, as if she had not betrayed me
and torched all of my hopes!
krynia
Mother always said family
was to support each other.
Is it somehow not this
way on the Mainland?
ellerie
Within the great noble houses, certainly.
But Rosetta was different. She should've
been different. She should've understood.
She would have a place in the Princess's
regime, freed from the chains of her house!
But that isn't what she chose, and we
paid the price. Because of my foolishness.
rosetta
... But I'm optimistic that
we can make amends.
We were as close as sisters.
She can surely understand
why I made such a decision.
cherise
This picture you've painted of Ellerie does
not seem like one who forgives and forgets.
I'll pawn my sword if she wishes you well.
rosetta
Instructor, you don't know her like I did.
We had no one but each other for years.
We may not have met since her exile, but...
cherise
My job is to turn you into the best
swordswoman the world has seen, not to prevent foolish decisions.
ellerie
I was overjoyed to hear that Rosetta
too had accompanied the fleet, truly.
I cherish this opportunity to deliver to
her the same humiliation she did to me.
Floodplain
bloodbane
You're really joining the bloody Herons?
You'd betray the interests of the Crescent?
jujube
Opposed to those in power, perhaps.
It benefits them to ensure the
Crescent is a fully functional region, while the Guild actively encourages
and profits off the Crescent's disunity!
You promised that you joined the Guild to
make change, to end their exploitation!
bloodbane
Change is a gradual process. You can't
expect me to bring it about so quickly.
jujube
There is no need to appease
me with falsehoods, Bloodbane!
You've shared in their profits,
taken upon their interests, become no different to them!
bloodbane
What makes you think House Heron
will help you achieve your goals?
They're bloodsucking nobles!
jujube
They could be, but better a chance for
change than your selfish compliance!
bloodbane
This is all wishful thinking.
Cease this madness, Jujube.
jujube
Bloodbane the adventurer is long dead,
you were just too blind to see it.
(Jujube storms off.)
bloodbane
Jujube, wait!
... Where did it all go wrong?
hammerhead 1
Are we really siding with
the Guild, Captain?
hammer heija
It's the way the
wind blows, lads.
hammerhead 2
The Hammerheads have
always been neutral.
hammer heija
I feel no better about dealing
with this avaricious order, but this is for our survival.
We don't side with them, but
their House Heron masters.
hammerhead 1
They're just some nobles.
How bad can they be?
hammer heija
Pretty dang bad.
They won't take kindly to
the law of adventurers on the Crescent, and all of us put together will not be a
match. You have to trust me on this.
hammerhead 2
We trust you, it's that it
still doesn't feel good.
hammerhead 1
But, what happens after? If House
Heron is here to stay, what do we do?
hammer heija
M'afraid I ain't got an answer.
One step at a time, lads.
cyquin
Once again, I am relegated to
the dredges of the army, while my sister goes crusading
with Father's blessing.
Look after the horses!
Filthy, disgusting things, a job
fit for a baseborn mongrel.
I can hope that by some miracle, some suicidal fools might challenge
me here so I can prove my worth.
ellerie
Here we are, the floodplains of Yalunzar.
The backbone of Yalunzar's growth.
krynia
Look at all those
rice fields!
pomelo
It's in good condition, considering
they just got invaded months ago.
ellerie
The Iron Prince had the Guild
trapped within their walls.
No doubt he wished to claim it for
himself after his victory.
Now, it's here to benefit the Herons.
krynia
There's so much. It could feed
us for months if we plunder it.
lindros
One who stays near ink is stained
black. Ellerie is a bad influence on you.
ellerie
When have I been
pillaging and looting?
lindros
Please do explain
the plan, then.
ellerie
An exception, not the rule. We are going
to loot and pillage as much as we can, before House Heron's main army returns.
pomelo
That's not hitting the Guild itself,
just people who work for the Guild.
Their livelihoods depend on here.
ellerie
The line blurs in cases such as this.
We have to deny them as many resources as
we can, given our disadvantageous position.
pomelo
I know this, but... I'm sure Oriana wouldn't
have agreed to find victory in such a way.
ellerie
...
krynia
Mother's too caught up with her fancy
ideas. She knows nothing of war.
We're not fighting the Green Tide,
Pomelo. We can't offer any quarter!
ellerie
I understand your concerns, Pom, but
mercy to our foes is harm to ourselves.
pomelo
But they're not
our foes. Not really.
lindros
Give it up, Pom. You can't win this one.
Besides, we're not the common pirate.
ellerie
Exactly, we'll take care to
avoid civilian casualties.
But if push comes to shove...
We can only hope for the best.
pomelo
I can't say I like
this much better.
lindros
Don't stress about this, Pom.
As long as we win this war quickly...
(Ellerie flies to the center of the floodplain.)
ellerie
So many of life's problems can
be solved by having an airship.
Let me explain the plan quickly...
(Ellerie points to the stable and a crate by the river.)
ellerie
We can make future battles easier by
taking down some of their mounts,
or poison their water source through the
crate. Yes, it was planted in advance.
Destroy what you can, but we do not have
the luxury of time to destroy everything!
Flee the scene using any road away from
here. I'll make sure you all get picked up.
narrator
Destroy houses/graves for Gold,
granaries for stat boosters,
2 farm per +1 Max HP army wide, armories/vendors/temple
/village/church for items.
Poison/Horse/Pegasus will make
a tough future chapter easier.
Ending
If you pillaged at least 2 rice fields
(2-3) You've stolen a decent amount of rice
from Yalunzar's farmers. Good work!
Max HP+2 for Ellerie's army.
(4-5) You've stolen a massive amount of rice
from Yalunzar's farmers. Excellent work!
Max HP+2 for Ellerie's army.
(6) You've stolen as much rice as you could
carry from those farmers. Incredible work!
Max HP+3 for Ellerie's army.
ellerie
(smiles) Your destruction score
is 33/33, very incredible!
You've committed every
war crime possible.
ellerie
Your destruction
score is [#]/33.
If you pillaged 0-5 targets:
ellerie
I would have hoped to deal a little more
damage to Yalunzar's infrastructure.
pomelo
I think this is fine. We damaged
their army. That's good enough.
ellerie
I'll have to be satisfied with what we did
achieve. The most important battle awaits.
If you pillaged 6-12 targets:
ellerie
It's not significant damage, but any detriment
to the Guild and its allies is worthwhile.
pomelo
It's not insignificant to the
people living here, Captain.
ellerie
I sympathise with their plight, but aid
will have to wait for the war's conclusion.
If you pillaged 13-19 targets:
ellerie
They're surely feeling the impact of our
surprise attack. This has been a success.
pomelo
Success feels like
little consolation.
ellerie
We can make things better
after the war ends, Pom.
If you pillaged 20-27 targets:
ellerie
We've managed to strike a harsh blow
into both their army and their supplies.
Far better than I could have expected.
pomelo
... Let's leave. I don't want to
look at this place any longer.
If you pillaged 28-32 targets:
ellerie
We may have gotten
a little... carried away.
pomelo
Carried away? We burned down
most of the place! Houses, farms...
ellerie
Controlled destruction is easier
said than done. It is what it is.
If you pillaged every target:
ellerie
... Wow. I did not expect us
to do this much damage.
pomelo
These lands have been so totalled.
It will take decades to recover. Oh, Elis.
ellerie
It may not have been my intent,
but... It benefits us, that's all.
We can't dwell on this, our
most important battle awaits.
(Ellerie receives a Bobby.)
If Betrayer is present
krynia
Captain, I've been doing some investigation.
There's something shifty I want to report.
ellerie
At a time so perilous?
What is it?
krynia
It's that Betrayer guy.
He is up to no good.
I see him sneaking around
the place, planning something.
ellerie
Have you found evidence
of his wrongdoing?
krynia
I... haven't found anything definite,
but with a little more tim-
ellerie
Could it be that your assumptions
have something to do with his name?
krynia
... He is shifty, though.
ellerie
People cannot choose what they are called,
or how they are labelled. ... I know this well.
Take care you have not let the assumptions
of others suggest a self-imposed deception.
krynia
Alright.
Lake Lotugyr
wheatley
Why do you still linger? Are you
having second thoughts now?
johnny spices
I know the plan was to abandon
Jeziel's men to cover our escape, but there are good people out there,
giving their lives for the Crescent.
To merely leave them to die,
it is pure cravenness.
wheatley
It shall be your doom if you deviate
from the plan. My path is clear.
(Wheatley and her troops leave.)
fighter
What's the plan, boss?
I think she's right. We gotta go!
johnny spices
Allow me a moment to think.
Our cannons can barely reach
or scratch their flying fortress.
The skills and equipment of their
elites far outstrip even our own.
I have no wish to be a deserter,
but we are simply outmatched.
fighter
Boss, let's go! I think
Jeziel is already done for!
johnny spices
... There's nothing more we can do.
Alright, men, listen up! We're all-
(The Floating Fortress blasts the area, killing everyone.)
jeziel
What are you doing? We must
get back there and fight!
knight 1
Your highness,
it's hopeless!
jeziel
I spent my youth fleeing the
Mainland, fleeing my folly.
No more! This is my domain!
I refuse to flee any longer!
knight 2
You must see reason! What can
we do against death from the skies?
jeziel
Glade Gallants, stand with me.
It is an honour to die here, for this land which we call home!
(The knights kill him.)
knight 1
We slew the wicked prince!
We come to-
(The Floating Fortress blasts the area, killing everyone.)
Character Descriptions
Cyquin
My comically inept cousin. If Rosetta's
rival had been anyone else, she'd
stand no chance in the succession.
Bloodbane
Formerly a famed adventurer, decided to
switch to a much safer career choice.
Clearly, this is a man with smart decisions.
Jujube
A renowned dancer that seems
to have been overtaken by a great
melancholy. Talks to herself a lot.
Hammer Heija
Has a surprisingly stellar reputation, as
her brutal killings are only against those
seen as unsavoury. A likely story.
Town Dog
Some kind of abominable creature
the townsfolk keep around out of
their own volition? I don't get it.
Tam
Named after a legendary general famed
for his skill in impaling enemies and
making unhealthy chocolate biscuits.
Kilian
Named after a legendary swordmaster
famed for... I have no idea, actually.
Something to do with cutting bread?
Executioner
A knock on the door late at night from
them is the greatest fear of all those
who live under House Heron's banner.
Hexbreakder
The greatest threat to public order is a
rogue magic user. This force ensures they
stay in line. The Sect is not fond of them.
Trailblazer
Acting as scouts and law enforcement
officers, a few of them ensures words of
treason are reported and spies put down.
Linecrusher
When peace needs to come fast, this
squad is deployed. A few of them is a
match for a whole army of peasants.
House Heron
All kinds of troops bound to serve House
Heron as willing fodder to advance the
purpose of those of superior bloodlines.
Hammerhead
A famous adventuring band and most
well known for their brutal tactics,
that is, before we came on the scene.
Harbourmen
A decades old organisation dedicated to
peacekeeping in Yalunzar. Despite the
name, are no longer limited to only men.
Adventurer
Broke soldiers who've realised guard
duty is not bringing home the money
and will get themselves killed for gold.
Militia
Faceless fodder who will be the first to
die when any kind of true threat arises.
Disciple
Extremists of the Disciples of Elis out
to serve 'divine will' or some nonsense.
Poison Crate
Potato produced this to take down a
rival tomato farm. I've confiscated it
for use against our enemies instead.