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Chapter 8: Foreboding Prelude

Opening

narrator
Having dispatched the traitors protecting the gates of Renvall,
Lyon ventures inside with his most trusted troops.
It stands to reason that if Ephraim leads the traitors, he should be awaiting within.
However, once inside, they discover that they have underestimated the prince...
(A soldier approaches Lyon as he enters the castle, but he effortlessly dispatches them.)
(Valter fidgets with impatience.)
valter
Where is he? Where is he?!
Show yourself, Ephraim of Renais!
Show yourself and do battle with me!
Or are you too much of a coward to face the Moonstone?!
caellach
Yeah, honestly, I'd heard such great things of this Ephraim boy...
So far he just seems to be a big noble chicken!
We're exterminating his allies. When's he gonna come out himself?
valter
And here I had hoped he would be a worthy challenge...
Mmhmmhmm... His sister might be made of sterner stuff than he.
When are we taking on Frelia, Prince Lyon?
I so look forward to taming her...
(Fomortiis becomes agitated.)
fomortiis
Enough! Shut your mouths, all of you!
Ephraim is not a coward. You're all wrong!
caellach
Whoa, whoa! The heck's that for? He's the enemy!
Why'd you play defender for that dandy prick?
What, you in love or something?
fomortiis
You forget I know him. Better than all of you.
He is brave, but he is not stupid.
He doesn't pick fights that he cannot win.
riev
(smirks) Heh heh heh... I hate to interrupt such a fascinating conversation, but...
It appears someone is coming to welcome us to the castle.
(The group is approached by Forde and two mages.)
forde
You're looking for the prince, aren't you?
Sorry to disappoint, but he left a while ago.
We were just meant to keep you busy for a bit.
valter
So, he ran with his tail between his legs?
I don't know, Prince Lyon.
It's sounding like we were correct about him.
fomortiis
Quiet!
Where has he gone? Tell me now, cur!
forde
(smirks) Why would I? You're going to kill me anyway.
(frowns) Just like you killed Kyle... And my brother.
Got word not long ago about him...
You know, now that the topic's come up,
I think I owe you some payback.

Mages! You know what to do!

(The mages destroy the bridge behind Lyon's troops.)
forde
(smirks) And now you can't go back that way.
Too bad. Guess you'll have to kill us all to leave.

I know I'm not the prince...
But I hope to be a worthy opponent nonetheless.
Till next we meet!

(Forde retreats as his troops cover the castle.)
fomortiis
You planned all of this, did you, Ephraim?

...Very well, then. We'll do this the hard way...

(The camera focuses on Tirado and any survivors of Chapter 5x, who have been locked in a cell.)

If Murray is alive

tirado
......
murray
...So...
This didn't go quite as we'd envisioned it, did it...
tirado
Not quite, Murray. Not quite.
murray
But we still have our weapons!
We just have to wait for them to open the door, and--
tirado
They won't open the door. That's the whole point, Murray.
We're supposed to stay here until we starve.
That way, they don't have to fight us. Do you follow me?
(Murray puffs himself up.)
murray
It's okay, Lord Tirado! We'll break out in no time!
Murray's Brigade will not allow this dishonor to continue!
tirado
Yes, Murray's Brigade.
That's exactly who I expect to come to our rescue.

Sigh... If these double-crossers don't kill us, General Valter will.
Maybe I should just do it myself. Save everyone some time.

...But, no. I'd be admitting defeat then. I refuse to do that...
There's still a small chance we'll make it out of here.
Deplorable odds, and yet...
The possibility is there. Let's see what happens next...

murray
Yes, Lord Tirado!

If Murray is dead

tirado
They aren't bringing me any food...
There's no denying it anymore. They want me to starve.
Perhaps I should just take this axe to my own head...
It'd be a far less painful death, I suppose.

...But, no. I'd be admitting defeat then. There's still a chance...
If General Valter gets here, if he can reclaim the keep...
And if he doesn't kill me himself. Deplorable odds, and yet...
The possibility is there. Let's see what happens next...


If Deni is alive

deni
Hey, Lord Tirado... You really think we're gonna starve here?
tirado
Have you seen them bring us any food so far?
deni
L-Lord Tirado... I've a question.
tirado
What?
deni
Do you think there's... something after life?
Heaven? Hell? Purgatory? Reincarnation?
...Nothing? What do you think?
tirado
......
Release.
deni
Release?
tirado
Release, from listening to vexing imbeciles like you.
deni
...You could've just asked me to be quiet, you know...
tirado
Yes, but insulting you felt good.
Right now I need whatever satisfaction I can get.
deni
You're a terrible person, you know that, Lord Tirado?
tirado
A terrible person who is about to starve to death.
Truly a tragedy.

Chapter Tips

The Prisoners

If you do not open the cell and liberate the prisoners, they will not rejoin your team.

Be careful you don't forget!

Enemy Turn 1

forde
Here they come...
I'd hoped that show would've scared them a little bit, but...
Hey, listen!
mage
Yes?
forde
Since blowing up the bridge didn't make them budge,
let's blow THEM up instead! Can you do it?
mage
With this tome? I won't even have to get close!
It'll be like an indoors thunderstorm in here!
forde
Make it count. It's our best bet to beat them.
mage
Yes, sir!

Turn 2 (if Orson is alive)

(Orson enters from the east with a revenant in tow.)
orson
This way, Monica... I can't see any soldiers along this corridor.
I believe the exit is not much further. Courage, my love!

What's that? My injury?
(smiles) Please, don't worry on my account, dear. It is of no consequence.
I can hardly feel the pain. It doesn't matter. None of it matters...
These last days I've spent with you have been the happiest of my life.

Darling... You're so beautiful. As radiant as the day we married...
I am so happy... So happy that we are together again...
That's all that is important to me. Being with you... Forever.

Freeing Tirado

tirado
(smiles) It would seem fortune has not deserted us entirely.
We can leave the pleasantries for later.
At this point in time, all I wish is to cave in a few skulls.
Shall we be on our way?

If Murray is alive

murray
(smiles) Yes! Freedom, at last! Thank you, friends!
From here on, I shall redouble my efforts to serve Grado!
Murray's Brigade will be the finest in all of Magvel!

If Deni is alive

deni
(smiles) ...Well, slap my ass like I was just born! Saved!
I've got just the song for the occasion...

(He fidgets self-consciously.)

(frowns) E-Er, but maybe I'd best save it for later.
Imagine being freed just to eat an arrow afterwards...
Nah, I'd better focus until it's all over.
P-Please, protect me! I'm just an innocent musician!

Conversations

Nate & Deni

nate
(smiles) Deni! Fancy meetin' you here.
deni
N-Nate! What're you doing here?
nate
(serious) Been roped into joinin' this army.
It's not bad. I figure it beats being a freshwater pirate.
deni
So you left Bazba's Bandits too, eh?
nate
I'm surprised everyone didn't leave Bazba's Losers...
All that stopped us was his big talk about killin' anyone who tried.
But then you just up and left, and he didn't do squat.
He started to pretend he never knew no Denis.
Showed myself out shortly after. Wondered where you'd gone...
deni
Well, I didn't mean for anyone to follow me...
I didn't leave because I didn't like Bazba.
I left because I didn't like bein' a brigand.
My song is what I live for these days...
nate
It pay well?
deni
Pah... It's not about the pay. It's about the artistry of it!
I live and breathe for my art. It's all I need.
...T-That, and I've been followin' this band of mercs around.
I help 'em with chores and paperwork and they feed me.
nate
You were always the one handling the numbers for Bazba, too.
Since you were the only one of us that could do a bit of reading and math.
In that way, I guess you just kept doing the same thing, did you?
deni
Perhaps, but I have a true purpose in life now.
Honing my song until it can move the gods themselves!
...You don't think it's a dumb thing to want, right?
nate
(smiles) Heh, well... I think it's a pretty damn neat goal.
(frowns) Wish I had more than fish for brains.
Then maybe I could turn a new leaf like you.
But all I'm good for is bashin' heads in...
deni
Hey, it's not like I'm a genius, either.
You just need to find the right thing for you.
Oh-- Maybe now that we've found each other again,
I can help you find your true calling!
nate
(smiles) That'd be great! Thank you so much.
And hey, good luck with your music, man.
Lemme know if you ever want an audience.
deni
(smiles) T-Thanks...
[Nate & Deni gain support rank C.]

Bone & Deni

bone
...Huh? That you, Deni?
deni
(smiles) Bone! Good to see you, man. How're things?
bone
(smiles) They're okay. The gang disbanded, did you know?
deni
(frowns) Oh... Guards came knocking?
bone
(frowns) Something like that. Me and the boss, we were captured.
But then this army came 'round and now here I am.
I'm a proper soldier now. Just about.
deni
Eh, I'm not that surprised.
You weren't made for the life of a cutthroat, my friend.
bone
You think so? I'm not so sure.
I'm a good-for-nothing dummy. What else am I made for?
deni
Who knows... I never would've expected my calling to be music.
Life is often unpredictable. You'll find your place, I'm sure of it.
bone
(smiles) Heh... Thanks, Deni.
I'm glad you're doing okay too.
[Bone gains 1 Strength.]

Deni & Bazba

(Deni starts.)
deni
...!
bazba
......
deni
B-Boss Bazba...
bazba
Who are you? Do I know you?
I don't know you. Never seen you in my life.
I don't like strangers like you. Get outta my sight.
deni
H-Hey, Boss, it's me! Deni!
I-I know I kinda left without sayin' anythin', but...
I found a new callin' in life! You understand, right?
bazba
What did I just say?! I don't know ya!
Now get out before I get any angrier!
(Bazba storms off.)
deni
...Huh. He took my departure worse than I thought he would...

Valter & Tirado

valter
Tirado... How interesting this is.
tirado
General Valter...
valter
You know something, Tirado?
I always believed myself to be a rather sharp man.
And yet, I find myself positively flabbergasted here...
I beg of you, help me to unravel this riddle.

You were supposed to trap Prince Ephraim,
and deliver him and his cadre to me on a silver platter.
And yet, neither prince nor platter are anywhere in sight...
Why, it would even seem you have lost control of the castle!
Aid me, Tirado. What could the meaning of all this be?

tirado
All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies.
I had not anticipated Grado deserters to assist Ephraim.
...Nor did I predict my sellswords' own desertion.
valter
Ah, pinning the blame on your hired blades, are you, Tirado?
Hahaha... Fine, let's go with that. I'll accept that excuse for now.
Come along. Fight your hardest and prove your worth.
You may evade the noose just yet. Hahahahaha...
(Valter leaves.)
tirado
...I suppose that could have gone worse.
[Tirado gains 2 Luck.]

Tirado & Zonta

tirado
Zonta. Couldn't run off fast enough, could you?
(Zonta starts.)
zonta
L-Lord Tirado...
tirado
So, will you kneel and make this easy on me...
Or shall I eviscerate you standing?
zonta
C'mon, Lord Tirado! There's no need for that!
I-I just figured, since the fight looked hopeless, I'd...
I'd go looking for help! Yeah!
And look at this, I brought a whole army back with me!
tirado
Liar. They found you trying to escape and forced you to come along.
Unfortunately for you, I still draw breath.
Don't imagine for a moment I will not tell them all about your betrayal.
Someone will have to pay for our failures, and I'm not volunteering.
So... It'll be your word against mine, Zonta.
You had better practice your explanations.
Just in case you live long enough to give them.
(Tirado leaves.)
zonta
......
Well. This just went from bad to worse...

Tirado & Zabba

(Zabba starts.)
zabba
Lord Tirado...! (smiles) H-How good to see you!
tirado
Zabba. Fancy meeting you here.
I suppose you couldn't run away in time?
Well, then. The choice is yours.
Shall I execute you personally, or will you save me the effort?
zabba
(frowns) P-Please, no! I'm not the betraying kind!
I swear, I only escaped to find reinforcements!
A-And hey, I did, didn't I? Look at the help I brought back!
tirado
Do not lie to me. You didn't find them, they found you.
Unable to escape, you decided to fall in line for your own safety.
How unlucky for you that I was not killed in your absence...
zabba
Look, Lord Tirado, you are under a lot of stress.
I understand you're upset, but...
tirado
I am not upset, Zabba. I am looking out for myself.
That's the same thing you did, is it not? So you understand.
Someone will have to take the fall for our shameful defeat.
It can be me, or it can be you. Can you guess what my choice will be?
It will be my word against yours, so I suggest you start racking your brains.
See if you can find an argument that will let you receive a swift death.
(Tirado leaves.)
zabba
Urgh...

(Zabba fumes.)

What a horrible bastard! Ohhh, how I hate him...

Riev & Orson

riev
(smiles) Heh heh heh... Well met, Orson.
It does my heart good to see you are safe...
And happily reunited with your beloved wife, of course.
orson
......
riev
Give me not such a distrustful look, Orson.
You do recall who you have to thank for this miracle, correct?
Surely your mind can't be so far gone that you have forgotten...
orson
...I owe it to Prince Lyon of Grado... And to you, Blood Beryl Riev.
Fret not. My gratitude knows no bounds...
...I have betrayed everything for this. Everything...
I will fight with you for the nonce, if I must.
Anything to protect Monica. Anything...
riev
Heh heh heh... It gladdens me to hear that, Orson.
Your wife is quite blessed to have such a dedicated husband.
Brings a tear my eye, it does...

Worry not, Orson.
You will have ample opportunity to pay your dues to us...
Heh heh heh...

orson
......

Forde

Combat

forde
Let's see if I can't take down a couple of you with me.
It's the best I can hope for at this point...

Combat w/ Orson

forde
Sir Orson...
Why did you have to betray us?
Your departed wife is weeping in shame.
orson
You're wrong, Forde.
My wife is happy. We are so very happy.

Death

forde
Ah, Prince Ephraim... It... It was fun while it lasted.

Ending

fomortiis
......
He truly is not here... He has slipped between our fingers...
selena
Nothing to be done about it now, Prince Lyon.
It's all over. We should hurry away.
fomortiis
And where would you have us go, Selena?
selena
Grado Keep, naturally.
We need to get the situation back home under control.
It is not far from Renvall. It only makes sense to go there next.
glen
If you wish, Selena, Duessel and I can go.
Riev, Caellach and... Valter would suffice at your side.
fomortiis
That's a rather convenient way to split up, is it not?
No, I don't think so. I have use for you yet.
selena
But, Prince...! If we leave the capital unattended much longer...
We risk losing the entire army! It would spell Grado's doom!
Please, Prince Lyon. Even if it's just one of us, you have to allow--
fomortiis
I don't HAVE to do anything, Selena. I am your liege.
What I say, goes. Do we understand each other?
selena
...My liege is your lord father, Prince Lyon.
I swore eternal allegiance and fealty to him, not you.
fomortiis
(smirks) Oho... Getting antsy, are we, Selena?
The sellsword was right. You truly would love to call yourself my mother.
(Selena starts.)
selena
You! How could you say such a thing...!
glen
Selena! Stay calm...! This is the prince you're talking to!
selena
If he won't see reason, it is my duty as one of the Imperial Three to--
(Duessel steps forward.)
duessel
Enough of this!

Prince Lyon... Allow me. I shall go to Grado on my own.

fomortiis
(frowns) On your own, Duessel?
duessel
Yes...
fomortiis
......
(Fomortiis summons a cyclops. Duessel startles.)
duessel
...!
fomortiis
Take this... ally with you.
(smiles) For your own safety, Duessel. The roads are treacherous these days.
duessel
...Thank you, my prince.
I shall take my leave, then. May luck be with you, Prince Lyon.
fomortiis
Mm... Safe travels, Obsidian.
(Fomortiis steps away.)
duessel
......
selena
He would send a towering fiend to watch you?
What is this?! Do the Imperial Three not have the prince's trust?!
duessel
Please, Selena. Leave it be...
I suppose I can understand the precaution.
selena
Even so...
duessel
I shall write back with news as soon as I am able.
In the meantime... Do what you think is right.
selena
...Very well.
glen
Duessel... Best of luck to you.
duessel
Mm.
(Duessel rides off, followed by the cyclops.)
valter
Well, now that that's accounted for...
What shall the rest of us do, my prince?
caellach
We gonna return to Renais and see the emperor, or...?
fomortiis
Perhaps we shall have to do that...
Riev, do you have any other suggestions?
riev
Hmm... I have a little scheme cooking up, but so far...
I haven't received any news on that front.
It is starting to vex me. My underling is slacking off...

Oh! Hold a moment... What amusing timing.
It would seem he just so happens to be on his way...
Yes. Here he comes. Let us see what tidings he brings...

(A shaman warps in.)
novala
General Riev!
Oh, you're here as well, Prince Lyon?
riev
(smirks) Heh heh heh... Novala.
Do not dally now. Inform us of the latest developments.
novala
(smiles) We're ready to proceed to the final stage of the plan.
The Sacred Stone of Frelia... has been located.
fomortiis
(smiles) Has it, now? Perfect...
Where is it?
novala
According to our ally in Frelia, it rests in the Tower of Valni.
Safeguarded by a division of Frelia's finest troops.
riev
Yet they would not expect us to take the fight to them...
Yes... I believe we can mount a surprise attack easily enough.
fomortiis
With all haste, then. To the Tower of Valni!
glen
Wait a minute, Prince Lyon... I do not understand.
The Tower of Valni is a position of no strategic significance.
What do we stand to gain from seizing it?
fomortiis
Yes, you truly understand so very little, Glen...
We stand to gain everything, for this is the true goal of this war.

To gather the Sacred Stones... And shatter them to dust!

(Glen balks.)
glen
What?!
selena
T-That cannot be!
Prince Lyon, surely you are mistaken!
fomortiis
(frowns) Am I? The emperor himself ordered this, you know.
It's not me that wants this. It's him. All him...
selena
But that's... T-That's madness...
I...
fomortiis
You'll have time to question my father... If you dare.
(smiles) After all, isn't a soldier's duty to follow their liege's orders?
You were so insistent about your loyalty to him before...
He would weep so if he knew how your fealty falters, Selena.
(Selena starts.)
selena
My loyalty--!

...My loyalty does not falter. His Majesty's will be done...

glen
Selena...
...I... Likewise, for me. Make no mistake, Prince Lyon.
I am not a traitor, and neither is Selena.
The thought did not even cross our minds.
fomortiis
(serious) I pray that is true, Glen. I truly do.
valter
Hahahahaha... This is getting interesting now.
We're going to oppose the gods themselves? That's priceless...
I'm beside myself with excitement. What are we wasting time talking for?
Let us get going immediately! We have Frelian dolts to kill and stones to crush!
caellach
Yeah, no complaints here either.
Caellach, destroyer of the Sacred Stones... I like the ring of that.
Let me lead the charge, Prince. I'll get you that rock.
fomortiis
See to it you do, Generals, and you shall be rewarded.
caellach
Such a gracious employer you are.
Hehehe... Made the right call, casting my lot with Grado.
riev
Heh heh heh... My prince, if you would...
If we simply march, they could predict where we are headed.
It would behoove us to resort to... quicker means of travel for this mission.
fomortiis
Indeed. You there! The shaman!
novala
Yes, my lord?
fomortiis
Lend us your power.
We're going to warp the entire army to the Tower of Valni.
novala
Ahh... A difficult feat, to be sure.
But fret not! I, Novala, possess power beyond the likes of regular mages.
A transportation spell on this level is but a trifle for one such as myself.
riev
Of course. And I'm here, which means we'll actually be able to do it.
(Novala sputters.)
novala
W-What does that mean?!
riev
(smirks) Heh heh heh... Away we go!
(The army warps away.)

If Tirado was not rescued

tirado
...Hello?! Is anyone out there?!

Blast, it's gotten quiet as a grave suddenly...
I pray they did not forget about...

(closes eyes) Sigh...

Character Descriptions

Monica
Orson's wife. She was brought back from the dead by Lyon.

[Monica and Orson have A-rank support with each other.]

Forde
A cavalier of Renais. He is skilled, but reckless. He's Franz's brother.

Traitor
Renegades from the Grado army who wish for the war to end.