Opening
letter
Lord Uncle,
What a shock it must be to hear I still
live, despite the King's best efforts.
I write to you from the Crescent,
having found myself stewardship
of a small town by happenstance.
The Crescent is weak, with both the
Guild and the Iron Realm taking
significant losses against each other.
I have no desire to have merely a
scrap of land to call my own, and House Heron has no wish to
be surpassed by our rival houses.
Thus, I propose my aid in seizing the
Crescent in House Heron's name, in exchange for governorship of
one-third of the Crescent.
This is by no means a final proposal.
I am sure we can find an exchange
that benefits us and our house.
Signed,
Ellerie of House Heron
ellerie
No doubt, Uncle has already
destroyed Jeziel and his force.
But one is most vulnerable
at their moment of victory, and at that moment
is when we shall find him.
pomelo
Captain! I've got eyes on the
target! Lindros, come up here, now!
lindros
You need to be
more specific.
ellerie
Just over that way. Witness
the might of House Heron.
lindros
Incredible. I knew House Heron would have
secrets up its sleeve, but that thing is...
too far away. Looks just like a dark cloud.
pomelo
It's their ship, Lin! At least ten times
our size! How can such a thing even fly?
ellerie
You can have all the time you want to
study it, after you blow it out of the sky.
pomelo
It's a shame, really, to destroy such
a marvel of human craftsmanship.
House Heron has truly made a miracle.
ellerie
Don't be too impressed. They dug
this thing out of an old world bunker.
House Heron's engineers don't
even know how the thing works, but they've made it fly. Somehow.
lindros
Flying something that they don't even
know how it works, truly a smart move.
You two are making it sound like I'm
missing out on seeing something incredible.
ellerie
With any luck, you won't have to
see it in its full majesty.
Pomelo, better make it fast. It has no cannons
on the back, but once they spot us, we don't want to gamble on their aim.
pomelo
Not an easy shot,
but I'll do it.
(He fires.)
lindros
Was that a hit?
ellerie
Good shot, Pom. Unfortunately, they're
still flying, and they've definitely spotted us.
pomelo
We ain't got another shot, Chief.
This cannon has disintegrated
every foe it's touched, but damn that thing is tough.
ellerie
Okay. ... Okay. Time for the backup
plan I really didn't want to do.
lindros
What might that be?
ellerie
Their flying fortress is durable, but slow.
Pomelo, can you get us closer without
it directly facing us from the front?
pomelo
If this is their normal speed, I should
have no trouble flying around it.
ellerie
Lindros, you're going to be getting a good
view after all. We're going to board them.
lindros
Joy.
engineer
Milord, there's an
airship charging us!
daygon
I have eyes, you buffoon!
Shoot them down!
engineer
We can't turn our
fortress in time!
daygon
Then why do I keep you around?
An airship! A whole, damn airship!
How were we not informed of this?
cloudburst
That red hair! It must be Ellerie!
I was tasked by the King to ensure
Master Maurice's safe return, but...
Surely if I was to take Ellerie's head,
he'd be delighted! Let's do this.
leophric iii
I cannot forget how the Crescent
has made a mockery of me...
Through House Heron's might,
through my tireless training, it is time for this miserable land
to be punished for its arrogance.
(The Seahawk II flanks the Floating Fortress.)
guard
There he is! The big villainous
man who causes all our problems, not safe from us in his ivory tower!
potato
I hate rich people so much.
His death will please me.
he who chops
Chop him up for me!
guard
I absolutely will! The Chief and all of us are
relying on you two to get us back safely.
potato
We are absolutely trustworthy.
You have nothing to worry about.
(They leave.)
he who chops
What are we
doing again?
potato
Flying the ship. I don't know how to
do it, but I'll figure something out.
(The Seahawks and the guard captain board the Floating Fortress.)
ellerie
Find their four engineers, and kill them.
Take out the central navigation totem too.
Practically no one else knows a thing about
this fortress. They're guaranteed to crash.
Once we're done, the Seahawk II
will, had better, pick us up,
or else we're crashing to a
fiery doom with the fortress.
Why didn't we leave Pomelo on the
ship instead of trusting those two?
narrator
After killing all four
workers and the totem, the escape point will
spawn top right next turn.
guard
Chief, it's an honour to be personally
fighting besides you for the first time!
Allow me to show you why I am more
than worthy of leading Irinde's troops!
ellerie
I've heard much about your exploits.
I am very curious to see you in action.
guard
I don't mean to brag, but
I'm pretty much the best.
Ending
daygon
This fortress, the pride of my house!
Nothing but a living coffin!
ellerie
Pom, there's something
I have to tell you.
pomelo
If it's about Uncle Spices,
Lindros has already told me.
ellerie
Ah. I'm sorry for your loss. Spices truly
exemplified the virtues of the Crescent.
His role in having Jeziel slow down House
Heron was essential for our victory.
I knew the plan was dangerous, but I-
pomelo
I don't blame you for this, Chief.
He knew the risks. He took it, to give us the chance to save the
Crescent. We've avenged him,
what else can we do but grieve?
ellerie
He would be overjoyed to see our victory.
Irinde's victory. He loved this town, after all.
pomelo
Everything I've lost before were...
things I could put back together.
It was all so insignificant. But I've
done enough crying to Lindros.
Is there something else, Chief?
ellerie
With Spices sadly fallen, as
well as more of the clan, you could be the new
head of the John Clan.
pomelo
Me? Why? I have hardly any connections
in the clan, and I know little of leadership.
ellerie
You have something more
important than both. My support.
pomelo
But I'm merely a shipwright
and craftsman, Chief.
Why would I want to be
head of the John Clan?
ellerie
Power, respect, resources?
Many more doors would open.
You need not fear you lack
the skill. I can ensure that-
pomelo
I know what I am, Chief. I have no desire
to pretend to be something I am not.
I've already done so for years in the
John Clan. I don't want to return to that.
ellerie
That's fair enough, but please
consider it. It is no minor decision.
pomelo
There's no need.
I won't change my mind.
ellerie
I understand.
Please rest well.
Kalor Keep
ellerie
Behold! The head of this Lord Daygon,
found in the wreckage of his fortress!
The dark shadow cast over our land is
dispelled! But it was not without great cost.
Many brave souls perished. Little are more
well known than the Great Johnny Spices.
I knew him as a good man, full of cheer
and courage, as both a trader and a leader.
The Crescent has lost one of its best.
Prince Jeziel and I had fought bitterly, yet he easily put aside these past
differences to fight our common foe!
Princess Florete, I pray that the enmity
between our factions has truly ended.
florete
Why...
Why do I need to be here?
ellerie
Know that words cannot describe the extent
of respect I have for your grandfather.
Without the sacrifice of the late Prince and
his men, our victory would not be possible.
They paved the way for the freedom of
the Crescent! This is the head of his killer.
Prince Jeziel, you are avenged!
florete
I don't want this disgusting thing!
Just let me mourn.
ellerie
Prince Jeziel may be no longer with us, but
I won't let his efforts fade into obscurity.
I shall ensure his memory is honoured and
defend these lands as diligently as he did!
florete
Then take these lands for yourself!
I want nothing more to do with any
of this. It has only brought me pain.
(Florete leaves.)
ellerie
The Princess is going through a harsh time,
as are countless many of us.
But remember, the Crescent has scored no greater victory
before this day. We are truly united.
(The crowd cheers.)
ellerie
But there is one thing I must reveal. The
head I held before you, he was my uncle.
I too was part of this House Heron, living my life in wealth and ignorance.
However, my years on the Crescent opened
my eyes to the beauty of this harsh land, the tenacious yet welcoming people!
Yet my family still demanded that I betray
the Crescent, this land I now call home.
You see before you the evidence of my
choice! I ask you, people of the Crescent, and it is no small demand, to accept me
as one of you, despite my blood!
To allow me to defend the Crescent with all
my being. To accept me as your Chieftain!
crowd
rosetta
I don't understand, Sir Speedwell.
You're telling me in three days,
Father is dead, the Spymaster is
dead, our squad captains are dead,
we've lost half our fleet and the
fortress. In three days. To Ellerie!
speedwell
It truly beggars belief, but this is
indeed what has befallen our house.
You must stay strong, Young Lady.
rosetta
Oh, Father, why? Why did you go into
battle without gathering our full force?
How did Ellerie win three major battles
across the Crescent in three days?
speedwell
We were ill-informed, and this cost
us. Ellerie had an airship of her own, and was able to strike us even as
we thought we were entirely safe.
rosetta
An airship. That's a rather major
detail for us to have missed out on!
Somehow, the Guild was never
able to get this information to us?
speedwell
They offer us nothing which
might truly benefit us.
cherise
Wow, that cousin of yours is truly a monster.
At least you're finally Lord of House Heron.
speedwell
Cherise! Now is not the
time for your insensitivity.
cherise
I think the Young Lady is a little preoccupied
with “how do we get out alive” to grieve.
rosetta
Cherise is right. Never before has House
Heron teetered on the edge of destruction!
We must gather all our remaining forces,
and... come up with some sort of solution.
I approved of Father's plans for occupation.
My ancestors will not forgive me if this is
what dooms us, if I cannot turn this around.
speedwell
There is another matter, Young
Lady. Be wary of the Young Lord.
rosetta
My brother?
speedwell
We did not know yet who your Father had
written in his will to inherit House Heron.
rosetta
Father isn't blind. He can see that I exceed
my brother in what's needed to lead a house.
speedwell
There is more of a chance than you might
believe, considering your father's... history.
Regardless of the outcome, the Young
Lord will definitely move against you.
rosetta
My brother is not so foolish to stir
up in-fighting as our enemies lurk.
We will reconvene at Yalunzar,
everything is at stake!
cherise
What an utterly delightful mess this
has all turned into. Ah, the Crescent.
(As Rosetta and Cherise leave, Speedwell opens a letter.)
letter
Sir Speedwell,
You have served the House well. In the
case of my untimely death, there is one
last mission which you must perform.
Slay my daughter. She is useful now,
but she must not be allowed to become
a threat to the new head of House Heron.
Signed,
Lord Daygon of House Heron
speedwell
It is for the best if you do
not know, Young Lady.
Character Descriptions
Guard
A soldier from Irinde who fights
for Irinde. There's not much else
I can say about this person.
Daygon
My wonderful uncle. Tried to kill me
in childhood, but not hard enough.
Mother, please witness his death.
Leophric III
A minor noble in House Heron's army.
His face looks a little familiar, but I've
met too many people like him in my life.
Cloudburst
One of many orphans that have been
brainwashed to fight for the King.
Masquerading as part of House Heron.
The Machine
His name has been lost. His past
means nothing. He knows only
one thing. To be a machine.
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.
The Circle
A tightly-knit organisation responsible
for many of the Crescent's rising stars.
Their members seem to follow conflict.
Engineer
An expert trained specifically for running
this massive behemoth, but not trained
to hit anything with these ship guns.
Navigator
The central pillar keeping this whole
thing in the sky and under control.
It has absolutely no backups.
Loot
Just gonna yoink this while no
one's looking. Or smash it.