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Chapter 15: Village of Silence

Morva must be deployed this chapter.

Opening

(Caellach searches the village.)
caellach
...Not one soul here either, Prince Lyon.
You sure we got the right place? This is a ghost town.
fomortiis
Do not question me, Caellach. This is Caer Pelyn.
The people living here know the lay of this treacherous land.
They have probably set up some manner of ambush.

(smiles) Let us spring the trap, shall we? Caellach...
Gather some torches. We're going to set fire to the village.

(Glen balks.)
glen
What?! Surely that won't be necessary, Prince!
fomortiis
(scowls) Glen... What did I just say?
Do not question me! Follow your orders, General!
glen
These orders are barbaric...
caellach
Hey, Prince? We might not need to do that after all.
Look... They're crawling from under the woodwork.
(Monsters and mages emerge from hiding and descend on the valley.)
ewan
They're here...
All right, everyone! We're going to win this!
We're going to beat the evil Demon King and save the world!
(smiles) All we have to do is believe in ourselves and fight our hardest!
C'mon! Who's with me?! This is what we trained for!
Let's make Lord Morva, Elder Dara and Master Saleh proud!

(serious) All right... That's it. I'm gonna stop them. Watch me, Tethys!

fomortiis
So young and already so eager to die.
Though perhaps they are the wise ones.
They understand the futility of human life...
In any case, I shall grant them their death wish.
To arms, my heroes! Cleanse these peaks of their filth!

(grins) Especially you, Morva... Let's see how they react to the new and improved you.
Hahahahaha... It's going to be a fantastic show!

(Fomortiis summons Morva.)

Enemy Turn 1 (if Dara is alive)

dara
......
He was slain before my eyes... Like he was nothing...
The hero of 800 years ago... It's as if he never existed...
And the Great Dragon is nowhere to be found,
while her faithful followers are slaughtered...

What... What have I been doing my entire life...?
It all seems so pointless, now that the end has come...

Conversations

Fomortiis & Dara

dara
...Demon King...
What are you waiting for? Do it!
Kill me now... I will not resist.
fomortiis
Interesting... You surrender?
dara
I am not stupid. I know I cannot win.
I am a druid of some talent, but...
My body is heavy. It's all I can do just to stand here.
Fighting you, I would not last longer than a few seconds.
I would spare myself the hassle. Go on, kill me.
fomortiis
You give up so quickly.
There is more you can do yet before you depart this realm...
(smiles) At my side.
(Dara balks.)
dara
At YOUR side?!
Lord Morva was right. You do have a wicked sense of humor.
My life - over a century! - has been dedicated to the manakete.
My faith is my purpose. It is what I exist for. Now, riddle me this...
How could I ever throw it all away to stand with the manakete's nemesis?!
fomortiis
(serious) Gaze upon this landscape of horror and blood...
Where are your false deities, old woman?
One has become my dog of war.
Gnawing and gnashing those who so fervently believed in him...
But it is most curious. His whelp is not here.
I do not even sense her. She is that far away.
There is only one explanation, my friend...
dara
No! Don't...!
fomortiis
(smirks) Your faith? It was not mutual.
She could not care less about you. Or even Morva.
She has abandoned everybody, and ran away to safety...
Is this truly the one you wish to give your life for?
I assure you... Whatever tall tales Morva sprung about me,
I am a far more pleasant god than he liked to pretend.
Why, even he turned to my side in the end, didn't he? Hahahaha...
dara
...I... I just...

If I refuse, you'll simply do to me what you did to Lord Morva.
I suppose I might as well see where this goes...

fomortiis
(serious) Are you not forgetting something?
dara
...My lord...
fomortiis
(grins) Good girl. You learn so fast.
Come, Dara. Let us burn everything you ever built... together.
Hahahahahahahahahaha!
(Fomortiis leaves.)
dara
......
Where... Where are you, Great Dragon? Why are you not here? Just... Why?!

Aias & Lieselott

aias
Hail. Lieselott of Frelia, are you not?
lieselott
......
aias
Yes, they told me you were a woman of few words.
I have a query. I believe you could help me.
lieselott
What?
aias
I am a man who likes to leave nothing to chance.
To that end, I have perfected many battle formations and tactics.
I have never once sustained a relevant injury in combat.
There is but one thing I could never master...

The art of flight.

lieselott
......
aias
Lately, I have realized how confining the ground is.
If I could soar through the skies, anything would be possible.
Any plan. Any strategy. Any attack. Anything...
However, I have a problem. Wyverns... they are too fierce.
Each that I have tried to tame has taken a dislike to me.
Be that I knew why...
lieselott
And?
aias
I understand all Frelian squires receive basic training in pegasus flight.
lieselott
......
You want me to... teach you how to fly on a pegasus?
aias
That would be most gracious.
lieselott
......
If you thought wyverns were fierce...
Wait until you see a pegasus when a man tries to ride it.
They despise men. Nobody knows why.
aias
Hmm...
lieselott
...But... You look so composed.
I've never met a man so calm and collected before.
Usually men who try to ride pegasi do it just to prove it's possible.
They go into it with a certain... energy. Hubris, perhaps?
I don't get that from you.
aias
Who knows. Perhaps the whole thing is just a myth.
Perpetuated by the arrogance of men and hearsay.

...I would find out for myself. Can it be arranged, Lieselott?

lieselott
Sure. If nothing else, I'll get to see a guy fall on his butt.
I'll meet you when we make camp after the battle.
If you're still alive...
aias
You have no cause for worry on my account.
lieselott
Yeah, okay. Oh, and...
(smiles) Uh, pleased to make your acquaintance.
That's what people usually say when they make a new friend, right?
Sorry. Not used to talking with people much...
aias
(smiles) Hah... Please. My manners pale before yours.
I came asking for favors and did not even introduce myself...
The name is Aias. It is an honor to meet you.
lieselott
Haha... So prim and proper, Sir Knight.
[Aias and Lieselott gain C-rank support with each other.]

Zonta & Zabba

zabba
Unnh...
zonta
Hey, Zabba! Zabba!
zabba
What do you want now, Zonta?
zonta
I need to talk to someone about all this.
You're the only one around here I can trust.
zabba
...It's madness, isn't it?
zonta
Damn right it is! This isn't what we signed up for!
We're mercenaries, not assassins, for goodness's sake!
zabba
Is there really such a difference?
zonta
Yeah, we don't usually take up dirty jobs like this.
I'm too afraid to raise a complaint, though...
zabba
Then just shut up. Whining to me is useless to both of us.
zonta
...What's going on, Zabba? You look more brooding than usual.
zabba
This is the place, Zonta...
This is where I fought that bastard and nearly lost my head.
(Zonta starts.)
zonta
Whoa, here?! In this lost corner of the world?
zabba
It's what the job asked. Come here and kill the sage.
...He fought pretty well. Got caught off-guard, and...
zonta
Yeah, I've heard the story before.
You did tell me it was a remote place, but I never figured...
zabba
Now we're slaughtering this village's innocent people.
And still all I can think of is, he's nowhere to be found.
Where is he, Zonta? Where is the bastard that ruined my life?!
zonta
Er... How am I supposed to know?
zabba
Sigh... You aren't. It was a rhetorical question.
zonta
Well, I want you to know that, should we find him here...
I'll take up arms and assist you in evening the score.
(smiles) You've been my most reliable subordinate since you joined my gang.
What kind of boss would I be if I didn't help you settle an old debt like that?
zabba
Wow, you are aware of the concept of gratitude, Zonta?
Oh, right, I did get hit on the head in that other battle...
zonta
(scowls) C'mon, there's no need for that...
I know I'm not the best leader in the world, but I really don't think I've ever treated you poorly.
zabba
Aye... I suppose I do have to give that to you.
And thank you for offering to help. I appreciate it.
zonta
(smiles) Don't mention it.
zabba
...Now, if I could just find him...
What rock are you hiding under, Saleh, old friend?
[Zonta and Zabba gain C-rank support with each other.]

Tiffani & Lyon

tiffani
M...Mister... Lion...?
fomortiis
(smirks) Oh, who do we have here?
If it isn't Lyon's starry-eyed little protégé.
(scowls) Even amidst this human rabble, you sicken me the most.
(Tiffani starts.)
tiffani
W-What?!
fomortiis
(sneers) You know, little gnat, you picked the wrong man to worship.
Your beloved "Mister Lion" is a terrible human being.
Oh, yes... Words cannot describe the evils he is capable of.
tiffani
Why are you talking like this? What's wrong, Mister Lion?!
fomortiis
(frowns) Hmph... Tell me something, child.
I am aware that he saved your life...
But do you know HOW he saved it?
Do you know the unholy powers he tapped into?
That was no miracle... He stole MY power!
And he used it on a worthless, powerless insect like you!
Oh, seeing your stupid stare makes my blood boil...
tiffani
...You're...
fomortiis
He can feel it too. As we speak, he desperately claws for control.
He's rather afraid of what I might do to you...
(smiles) Wisely so.
(Tiffani starts.)
tiffani
You're not Mister Lion! Who are you?!
Give Mister Lion back! Give him back or I'll... I'll...!
fomortiis
Oho... I am impressed.
(serious) Everyone else has been woefully slow on the uptake...
(Fomortiis advances, but Tiffani shrinks back.)
fomortiis
You are correct, little Tiffani. I am not Lyon.
I am the one who will bring humanity to their knees...
And end their lives, one by one...
Starting with you!
(Tiffani trembles.)
tiffani
Ah! Aaahhhh!!
(Tiffani runs away.)
fomortiis
(grins) Hahahahahaha! Oh, Lyon. Now you've done it.
That girl will never want to have anything to do with you again.
Oh, that's so sad... You had finally made a friend...
A friend you weren't too busy envying or desiring to appreciate!
And now you've gone and ruined it. Such a shame...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[Tiffany loses her support rank with Lyon.]
narrator
(Don't worry, you can get it back)

Dara & Morva

dara
......
Lord Morva... He really has bent you to his will...
Is... Is there nothing left of you there?
Are you truly just an empty husk now?
morva
......
dara
......
Do you remember when we first met, all those decades ago?
You came to visit my mother, who was Caer Pelyn's elder before me.
(smiles) I was just a small child then. I came up to you, grasped your robe and said,
"Please let me fly on your back, Mister Morva!" What a bold whelp I was...
My mother was beside herself, but you just warmly smiled and nodded...
I still vividly remember that short flight. It is one of my most cherished memories.
Only later did I learn you had come to combat fiends that had wandered into Caer Pelyn.
You had just fought a battle, and yet you had no qualms humoring a brat like me...

(frowns) ......
Very well. I suppose we'll see how long we last before we go down...
It's all that's left for us to do, isn't it, Lord Morva?

But at least we'll fall side by side.

(Morva shifts.)
morva
......
[Morva gains 4 Luck and C-rank support with Dara.]

Dara (Combat w/ Morva)

dara
Lord Morva... Is it my turn now?
(closes eyes) ...Very well. I am ready.

Ewan

Combat

ewan
No way... T-This isn't good!

Okay, here goes...
Face the magic my master taught me!

Combat w/ Tiffani

ewan
Hey, you're also training to be a mage, right?
You don't need to go with the Demon King!
Master Saleh is the best teacher in the world!
I'll introduce you. Just come with me!
tiffani
I... M-Mister Lion... I...
ewan
Oh, right. I guess I should've known.
You're being forced to fight, aren't you?
(smiles) Don't worry! I'm gonna save you!
And then we can be good friends!
tiffani
(closes eyes) ......
(Tiffani cries.)

Combat w/ Dara

ewan
Wha-- Grandmother?! W-What are you...?
dara
My will is no longer my own.
I am but a weapon of the Demon King.
Strike me down or die. That is all.
ewan
Oh, no...
I-I'm so sorry, Teacher!

Death

ewan
Will I... Will I see you again now, Tethys...?

Locations

House 1

Default

woman
I can't believe monsters have appeared here in the realm of the Great Dragon.
By monsters I mean you, of course. Not the little troopers helping us.
Lord Morva summoned those before he left with Elder Dara.
Elder Dara is such an amazing person.
Her appearance belies her power, and her faith is thoroughly unshakable.
Of course, the youths of the village can't be underestimated either.
I'm so happy they're about to beat the snot out of you evil whippersnappers.
Here. Have this revolting thing. Fell off one of the spiders Lord Morva left us.
I hope you get cut on it and it gives you a nasty headache.

If Morva is visiting

(The woman jumps.)
woman
AAAAAAAAHHH!!
fomortiis
(The woman runs.)
morva
......
(closes eyes) ......

If Dara is visiting

woman
Elder Dara...! You're here?
(smiles) Does this mean we've won? Did you defeat him?
dara
...Stay inside, please. Don't move.
In fact, your home has a cellar, doesn't it?
woman
(frowns) Er, it does, but--
dara
Go down there and hide as long as you can.
woman
E-Elder Dara, what is happening out there...?
dara
Just do as I say.
I need to know I managed at least to save someone...
(Dara leaves. The woman starts.)
woman
Elder!
dara
...Sigh...

(Dara jolts.)

Urgh! W-What...?
What is this revolting thing?
It must have fallen off one of Lord Morva's monsters...
......

(The visitor gains a Large Talon.)

House 2

boy
Master Saleh is the coolest guy you'll ever meet.
He's teaching the kids of the village all sorts of magic.
Though his star pupil is a boy from outside Caer Pelyn...
I'm sure I'll be better than him in no time at all!
Master Saleh even gave me this advanced tome to practice with!
Isn't that soooooo cool?
(The visitor leaves. The boy startles.)
boy
A-Ah! My book! They took my book!

Waaah! Waaaaaaahh!
Mommy, mommy! The bad guys took my magic book!

(The visitor gains a Divine tome.)

Ending

glen
The... enemy leader is dead...
Gods, he was just a child...
fomortiis
Go and kill the rest of the stragglers.
Leave none alive. They are all our enemies.
caellach
The rest of 'em are too shook to even move.
By the look on their faces, I bet they'll never oppose us again.
I mean, c'mon, if I of all people say there's no reason to go that far...
fomortiis
...Do you defy me, Caellach? I just gave you an order.
I order you both to go and... kill the... kill...
(Fomortiis spasms.)
fomortiis
Urrk! Augh...!
glen
What is happening now...?
caellach
Anyone's guess, Glen! Keep clear!
(The area shakes violently.)
fomortiis
NO! NO... YOU... YOOOUUUUU...!!
FOOLISH BOY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!
YOU... YOU'LL NEVER...
(Fomortiis writhes.)
fomortiis
EEEEEAAAAAAAAARRRGHHHH!!
(Glen and Caellach move to Lyon's side.)
glen
Prince...?
lyon
(eyes closed) U...Uunnhh...
glen
Let me help you up.
(Glen helps Lyon to his feet.)
lyon
(opens eyes) T-Thank you, Glen... Urgh...
caellach
Prince, I swear, if you tell us it's "just a headache,"
I'm deserting the army right here and now.

...It's a joke, before you get any ideas.
But seriously, the heck's wrong with you?
Thought for a moment you were a goner, Prince!

glen
I ask that you confide in us, Prince.
What ails you? How can we help?
lyon
......
Tell me, Glen... Do you know why we fight this war?
glen
To destroy the Sacred Stones. You told us.
lyon
I did. But do you know what we get from that?
glen
...I've been trying not to think about it.
lyon
We are going to save Grado, Glen.
Grado's future, as things stand, is grim...
I will be the one to save our country. To save her people.
But to that end, I need to destroy the Stones...
They limit my power to save everyone.

You have to trust me, Generals.
I understand you have witnessed many shocking things, but...
We are the heroes of this story. Time will prove me right... You'll see.

glen
Prince, I... I don't know what to say.
I do not doubt you or your father.
I just wish you were more forthcoming with us.
We are your closest retainers...
lyon
So was Duessel, and yet...
glen
What of Duessel?
lyon
Pay it no mind...
I am still feeling a little lightheaded. It'll pass.
caellach
And here we go again... Yeah, it'll pass. All right.
You know what? I'm calling it a night.
I'm tired enough to sleep for a hundred days.
Since that's not an option, I'm claiming this day and this day alone.
Tomorrow we resume the march to Jehanna.
With all this time wasted, the gig's probably up, so we'll have trouble.
But I suppose that's what you pay us for, huh?
lyon
...Of course.
I shall take my leave now. Best of luck to you, Generals.
(Lyon warps away.)
glen
......
(closes eyes) Cormag... What I wouldn't give to be able to speak with you.
You might be able to help me make sense of all this...
caellach
Hm? You say something?
glen
(opens eyes) Forget it.
caellach
...Ah, who cares. I'm gonna go sleep.
With any luck, I'll dream I'm somewhere far away from here.
Sitting on a throne, wearing a crown and holding a scepter.
Hope you also have nice dreams. Of, uh...
I don't know, paperwork? What tickles the fancy of an uptight jerk like you?
glen
Right now, no dreams would be fine by me.
I need to process all of this...
caellach
...Well, either way, you try to catch some zzz's as well.
Can't be tired when we begin invading Jehanna.
Imagine if you fall asleep on your wyvern and I gotta catch you!
Hahahaha... Now there's an image.
glen
...You're right, Caellach. Thank you.
caellach
Thank me? For what?
glen
I don't know. Just, thank you.
caellach
Heh... Well, I guess you're welcome, pal.
glen
......
(Caellach and Glen gain C-rank support with each other.)

Jehanna Hall

ismaire
...Let me see if I understand everything correctly.
Grado wishes to destroy the Sacred Stones.
The emperor is being controlled by his son.
Having been last sighted in the Republic of Carcino,
Jehanna is likely his next target. Is that correct?
tana
Yes, that about sums it all up.
ismaire
...How are you holding up, Your Highnesses?
innes
What do you mean? The world is at war.
We're holding up as we can, like everyone else.
ismaire
There's no need to put on a strong face, Prince.
After what happened with your father, and your Sacred Stone...
Are you certain you are all right? Absolutely certain?
innes
Of course not. I am filled with a rage I never thought possible.
There are times I want to tear the walls down with my fists.
But Lyon will not wait for me to get over myself.
First, I will meet him on the battlefield.
Second, I will put an arrow between his craven eyes.
Then, and only then, will I allow myself the luxury of tears.
tana
Innes...
ismaire
What about you, Princess Tana? How are you doing?
tana
Well... Unlike Innes, I have cried. I've cried a lot.
I cried enough that I have no more tears left to cry.
Which means all I've left to do is fight.
ismaire
Even your father, should it come to that?
tana
...Even my father. Should it come to that.
innes
......
tana
You're looking at me strangely, Innes...
innes
I admire your resolve. And it vexes me.
I cannot guarantee my hand would not waver, if I were to face my father in combat.
I cannot be undone by my little sister, of all people.
...Bah. Now I feel even angrier than before.
(Tana is taken aback.)
tana
(smiles) Ahaha... Oh, Innes. Never change...
innes
What are you laughing at, you dolt?
You're making a scene in front of Jehanna's queen.
ismaire
(smiles) Hahahaha... Please, Prince Innes.
I do not mind. On the contrary, such cheer is welcome in these times.
Truth be told, I hadn't laughed in some time. Not since my son...
tana
(frowns) ...Eh?
ismaire
(serious) Pray forgive me. Now is not the time for me to wallow in self-pity.
You are both being so strong. I must be, as well.
Rest assured, you may count on Jehanna's might.
Now I just need to confer with my army's commander-in-chief.
Perhaps you might want to stay while we await his return?
innes
I think I might. I feel like I may be needed here ere long.
Tana, you go back to Renais and see Eirika and Ephraim.
tana
Admit it, Innes. You just don't want to see Ephraim.
innes
I am not that childish, Tana.
tana
(smiles) Pfft... And I never took you for one to tell jokes, yet here we are.
(Innes becomes agitated.)
innes
Hey! Listen here, you...!
syrene
Prince Innes, forgive my insolence, but...
It would behoove you to stop harrying your sister.
You are making a scene in front of Jehanna's queen.
innes
...Do you see what I have to endure, Your Majesty?
ismaire
(smiles) Hahahaha...
You are blessed with a wonderful sibling and loyal friends, my prince.
Treasure them always. That is my advice to you.
(frowns) You never know when you'll find yourself all alone.
Turning, hoping to see your kin, but they are never there...
syrene
...She is correct, Prince Innes.
innes
Queen Ismaire... Syrene...
(Gerik and Saleh approach. Innes steps aside to let them speak to the queen.)
ismaire
Ah, Gerik... At last.
gerik
Sorry for the delay... And the lack of manpower.
I'm afraid my band's in bad shape. Run-in with Grado, you see.
Did bring my guy here to help, though. Hope we'll suffice.
saleh
I am Saleh, a sage. While not a mercenary, Gerik is my friend.
I have been tasked with assisting him for the time being.
ismaire
A sage... That may just work out for the best.

Grado's last known location is Carcino. If the information is accurate...

gerik
...I can confirm it, I'm afraid...
ismaire
Then I would suggest the following course of action.

Character Descriptions

Ewan
A sage-in-training from Jehanna. He reveres his teacher, Saleh.

Monster
A creature akin to those of the Demon King, but summoned by another.

Caer Pelyn
Youths of the mysterious village of Caer Pelyn, deep in the mountains.