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Chapter 16: Dance Over the Seas

Opening

narrator
A historic battle has taken place in the northern peaks.
Emerging victorious, the monster hiding within Lyon has wrought havoc on his bitter enemy and his followers. It is the dawn of a dark day for humanity...
But none of this is known to Lyon's soldiers on the southern end of Magvel.
They sail the tranquil seas, headed back to a hostile home.
A subdued anxiety takes grip of their hearts, as they contemplate the inevitable violence they'll have to wage in their own homeland...
riev
Heh heh heh... Seasick, General Selena?
I could not blame you. This weather is positively dreadful...
selena
No. I'm just... thinking.
riev
I pray only of your undying loyalty to our liege...
selena
Our liege the emperor?
riev
...Naturally. Heh heh heh...
selena
......
General Riev... Would you mind a personal question?
riev
I am not in the habit of idle chatter.
selena
Why did you join the army of Grado? You used to be a bishop of Rausten.
Your magic is certainly fearsome, but you had no military experience.
And yet you climbed the ranks so quickly. General, nigh immediately.
Do you know how long it took me to reach the position where I am now?
Decades, General Riev. And it would have taken longer, had Valter not...
riev
Heh heh heh... I see. Jealousy, is it?
selena
I'm just curious. Is that so wrong, General Riev?
We are both generals of Grado. I simply wish to know you better.
riev
Hmm... Well, if you must know, my nosy friend...
The pontifex of Rausten and I, we had a certain... quarrel.
A schism in our faith, you could say...
He regaled me with many a colorful name and banished me.
Oh, he did not look so saintly that day, his brow furrowed in anger...
Hypocrite.
Ptooey.
selena
What could have prompted him to take such extreme measures?
riev
Oh, he's a rigid man, and I desired... flexibility, in my faith.
If I went into detail, we'd make dock and I'd still be talking!
selena
Well, we have the time, do we not?
riev
I just don't believe you would understand, General Selena.
I am not in the habit of wasting time, either... Heh heh heh...
Cutting to the chase; Change is on the horizon, my friend.
A great wave is about to take Magvel by storm...
I decided I could best help to further progress by Grado's side.
And thus here I am. Fighting for the future I believe in...
Will you be on the right side of history as well, Selena?
selena
......
I am loyal to the emperor. Now and always.
The right side is his... So I believe.
riev
We are not so different, then.
We both fight for what we believe in, you see?
The subject of our belief may be slightly different, but...
In the end, we are allies, and that is what matters, is it not?
selena
I suppose you may have the right of it, General Riev.
Thank you for answering my impertinent questions.
riev
Heh heh heh... Please, do not apologize.
It has been a most pleasant moment.
(Valter approaches.)
valter
What's this? Why are you two loitering about the deck?
We are almost to port! We must ready to disembark!
selena
Right you are, General Valter.
riev
You seem oddly cheerful, Moonstone.
That cannot be a good sign. Heh heh heh...
valter
Why, I am simply in a good mood.
You see... A pair of traitor ships block our way to Port Taizel.
selena
What?! Why didn't you say it sooner, you fool?
valter
Oh, you have no sense of drama, my dear successor...
That's what I meant by readying to disembark, of course!
After all, we cannot disembark if the pests stand in our way...
Hahahahahaha!
selena
Blast... I can see them now. They sail at speed toward us.
We will be boarded fast. Let us gather the troops!
(Lyon warps in.)
lyon
...Sounds like I have arrived just in time, Generals.
valter
You have indeed. I feared you would miss the fun...
I have never fought in the high seas. How exciting!
From what I could tell, they have two ships.
They are maneuvering to surround us.
We won't be able to turn quickly enough on this floating nutshell.
It's going to be a tough one, my prince... Hahahahaha...
lyon
If we can't stop them from surrounding us, let's at least make sure we are ready to keep them at bay.
To your posts, everyone!
cormag
Commander Jude. Are the men ready?
jude
Of course. Ready and raring!
Let us at them, Cormag!
cormag
Not so fast. The prince has Grado's former generals with him.
They will be formidable opponents. We must handle this with care.
jude
Dammit-- What are we going to do, then?
Sit here and twiddle our thumbs? Nay, I say!
I am your veteran by many years, son, and I say we--
cormag
Master Garcia is by far the most experienced member of our army, and he has decided to name me general, and you commander.
That means I am your superior. Is that clear, Commander?
jude
...Grrrrr...
cormag
I want a coordinated assault from both ships.
Hold a moment, then have the knights deploy the planks.
The flying units will stay put for some time, then strike.
When the enemy is worn out, my unit will swoop in.
This should allow us to finish this with minimal casualties.

No heroics from anybody. We stick to the plan.
Understood, Commander Jude?

jude
Very well, "General" Cormag. It shall all be done as you say.
cormag
I only wish for us all to return home, Jude.
Remember that.
(Cormag flies away. Jude fumes.)
jude
Un...unbelievable! What is this nonsense?!
This is the worst plan I have heard in my entire life!
Why is HE my superior? What an injustice! I should've been general!
When that old fool retired, I should've been given that black gemstone...
Valter Moonstone, Selena Fluorspar and Jude Obsidian.
That's the way it should've been! But no!
First they delayed Selena's promotion in favor of that pompous Glen...
And then they gave MY title and stone both to that dastard Duessel!
Now these rebels come along, that foreign upstart Garcia takes over...
And he ALSO passes me over! For this cowardly mongrel, of all people!

(Jude fumes more.)

I have served this country loyally and bravely for decades!
What do these morons have that I do not?! It makes my blood boil...!

knight
Looks like it's starting... Assume your positions, everyone!
Mercenaries, on my signal, set down the planks!
We shall board the enemy's ship and end this horrible war here!
In the name of the true emperor! In the name of the true Grado!

Chapter Tips

Wyrms in the sky

Don't worry about the wyverns. They will follow Cormag's orders and stay put for now.

They won't even chase you if you get in their range. However, this will not last, so exercise caution.

Turn 4

knight
It's time, everyone!
Send them all flying with your lances!
For peace! For a better Grado!

Turn 10

(Cormag flies in with a platoon of wyvern riders.)
cormag
Charge! Let us put an end to these dark times, here and now!

...I can only hope today won't be the day of our reunion, Glen...

Conversations

Selena & Jude

selena
Jude... You stand with the traitors as well...
I am disappointed. I thought you a more loyal man.
jude
And why would I be, after the emperor wronged me so?
selena
The emperor wronged nobody. He deemed it prudent to--
jude
Do not feed me hogwash, Selena. I've had my fill.
I'm sick and tired of it all. I'm going out with a blaze of glory.
They may have taken my justly earned titles at every turn,
but they cannot take the knight's death I shall earn!
Come, Selena, draw your sword! Let us duel, general to general!
selena
I have never used swords, Jude, and you are not a general.
Now calm your nerves and come with us.
jude
Insolent wench! How dare you?! I AM a general!
It's everyone else that just won't let me have what's mine!
selena
Mmhmm. Did you even hear the next thing I said?
jude
Yes, go with you. I heard you all right.
Sigh... I suppose I may as well. The rebellion has no ambition.
They talk the big talk about "correcting our sins," but what then? They have no vision for Grado's future.
There is no glory to be had in their Grado...
selena
I shall speak with Prince Lyon.
Perhaps he may see fit to grant you a promotion of some sort.
...If you prove your loyalties lie with the correct side.
(Jude laughs.)
jude
(smiles) Gahahaha... Selena, I always did like you.
Sounds quite agreeable to me. It's a deal!

(serious) I am Jude Rubert, the true Obsidian! Surrender or die by my hand, rebels!

(Jude charges off.)
selena
Well, someone looks so pleased all of a sudden.
I wonder if it will even last until the end of the battle.

Valter & Jude

valter
My goodness. What a sight you are, Jude.
Sitting atop your horse, on a boat, boasting that fiery frown...
Truly, you should leave the soldiery.
You'd see far more success as a court jester.
jude
Moonstone... I still cannot believe you regained your title.
You should've been executed for what you did.
Instead you spent a few short years in prison, and all is forgiven.
The emperor's standards are as low as his dignity.
valter
And still they've proven too high for you, Jude.
(Jude fumes.)
jude
Mongrel...!
Ah, what does it matter.
I'm sick and tired of it all. I'm going out with a blaze of glory.
They may have taken my justly earned titles at every turn,
but they cannot take the knight's death I shall earn!
Come, Valter, draw your sword! Let us duel, general to general!
valter
You'd like that, wouldn't you? But listen...
For us to duel general to general, you need to become a general.
I can talk to Prince Lyon about it. He highly trusts me, you know.
...But I'll hold you to that duel. Do we have a deal?
(Jude is taken aback.)
jude
(smiles) Hah! I get my well-deserved promotion,
AND the chance to put you in your place?
I am delighted to accept, Valter, you miscreant!

(serious) I am Jude Rubert, the true Obsidian! Surrender or die by my hand, rebels!

(Jude charges off.)
valter
You were always such a proud flea, Jude...
It'll be interesting to see how you ruin this opportunity as well.
Hahahahahaha... And of course, the duel should be fun!

Novala & Deni

(Novala starts.)
novala
You...! I can't believe I only just noticed!
What is wrong with you?!
deni
Huh? What's up, man? Nothing's wrong.
Just taking a break before playing my battle hymns.
novala
No, er... That's not what I was... Er...
Who in the world are you? You don't look like much.
You look like a small-time thug, in fact.
deni
We can't choose the face we were born with, can we?
I'm Deni. I'm one of Lord Tirado's mercenaries.
I'm just helping out where I can. Primarily, with my music!
novala
Your music, huh... Tell me about this music of yours.
deni
Dunno what it is about it, but everyone in our team loves it!
Everytime I play it, they become instantly energized.
Never saw anyone dance so hard to a funeral march, haha!
novala
Yes, it's really surprising that such somber music would have that effect.
Have you never considered why that could be?
deni
Not really. I figure everyone here's just got great taste in music.
novala
...Great taste. Right...
What about your instrument? Looks to be one ancient flute.
Look at the motifs inprinted on it... Demons and other wraiths.
deni
Well, I found this flute one day, at a flea market.
The vendor was acting real strangely, lemme tell you.
Said something like "this is a cursed flute.
You shouldn't buy it. It will destroy your life."
But there was something about it that just... called out to me.
novala
Did anything unusual happen when you began playing it?
deni
Not really. It wasn't even a particularly good flute.
I tried playing some dancin' songs, but they didn't sound right.
I thought I heard weird whispers, real quiet-like under the song.
Figured the thing was broken, so I went to give it back.
But the vendor was gone. No trace of him, nobody knew where he went.
They told me he just packed up and left after sellin' me the flute.
Heh. What a coincidence, huh? Dang dastard musta scammed me!
novala
......
deni
So anyway, since I couldn't get my cash back, I tried playing some more tunes. Different stuff, experimenting.
Eventually I tried playing somethin' like a funeral march I heard once.
Those sorrowful notes... Now that was music to my ears!
It was so perfect, I could hardly believe it!
novala
And that's why you only play somber music?
deni
Yeah! It's so weird.
It's like the flute itself prefers sad songs.
Yeah, right. Probably just my imagination.
It must be the inner musician in my soul.
I'm just a different kind of artist.
novala
Yes, it's not like evil spirits and dark magic are real, am I right?
No way that thing with the demons etched on it could be cursed.
It's not like you were EXPLICITLY TOLD the flute is cursed.
deni
Exactly! You get it, man.
Anyway, was nice talking, but I better get moving.
The flute-- I mean, our comrades want more music.
All I wanna do is help out!
(Deni leaves.)
novala
......
Incredible. He really hasn't figured it out.
That thing's going to eat his soul up before long...
Why, I can sense it. It's already started...
Gullible fool!

(smirks) Well, it's none of my concern... Hehehehe.
When he goes down, I shall take the artifact from his cold hands.
And when I harness its power... I'll become immensely powerful!
Even the old freak will have to bow before my awesome might!
Hahahahahaha... Another brilliant idea, Novala. You're on a roll!

[Novala and Deni gain C-rank support with each other.]

Bazba & Saar

saar
You there! Halt!
bazba
Oh, what now, old guy?
saar
I must admit, you have been behaving.
You have followed your orders diligently.
Why, more diligently than some of our own soldiers, even.
bazba
I appreciate being a free man, y'know?
Don't wanna spend my days rotting in a cell.
If I have to cave and play along for that, fine by me.
I may be a hothead, but I ain't dumb!
saar
Are you ready to give me that list of your associates, then?
bazba
Oh, c'mon, this again?!

...Sigh... Look, I don't know what you think I can tell you.
The guys ditched me when I got beat by Renais's worms.
It was just Bone and me locked up in a storeroom for a while.

saar
Yes, and then the prince's army rescued you. I am aware.
But surely you must know something! They were your men!
bazba
(smiles) Heh... I see how it is.
Listen here, old man. Here is how the world works.
Loyalty ain't mean zip for most folks out there.
I kept my guys in line by intimidating them.
Others keep their guys in line by treating them mighty well.
Then there's the royal way: Cheap talk of honor and duty.
You're quite familiar with that one, right?
(Saar becomes agitated.)
saar
How dare you! Honor and duty are not "cheap"!
They're what drives us knights. Our purpose!
bazba
And that's mighty convenient for people like the prince, ain't it?
Trust me, man. I've been a sort of leader myself.
I know what I'm talking about, and you know I'm right.
saar
......
Pah. I don't have to stand here and listen to this drivel.
...Keep up the good work. That is all!
(Saar leaves.)
bazba
Pfhah! What a laughable old coot.
Better keep an eye out for the guy.
He's definitely gonna get himself killed if I let him...
[Saar and Bazba's support increases to rank B.]

Agrippina & Orson

agrippina
Ho... I remember you.
You were a knight of Renais. We met a few times.
When King Fado came to visit...
This is an interesting surprise. Very interesting indeed...
orson
...The queen of Frelia...
agrippina
I met your wife, as I recall. A charming woman.
I was surprised a knight would bring his wife along to an official visit.
orson
......
(smiles) She wished to see Frelia. Always a curious one...
I requested the boon of King Fado myself.
He accepted. I was so grateful.
So... grateful...
agrippina
And now you fight with those who'd see him dead.
My. I wonder if our own knights would've been so easily swayed.

...Bah. What am I saying? The easily swayed one was ME.
Tell me, Orson. What did they offer?
Was it lands? Recognition? Greater titles?
...Or are you more like my husband and I, seeking... more?

orson
(serious) ......
I had prayed for a miracle. Prince Lyon was Heaven's answer.
agrippina
Mmm? My, that sounds dramatic.
What kind of miracle, might I ask?
orson
...My wife. She has returned and will never leave again.
(Agrippina starts.)
agrippina
O-Oh, goodness! You mean, that... thing, I've seen you with...!
Come to think of it, yes, its face did ring a bell.
I understand everything now! It's... Oh, it's awful!
(grins) Such heresy! The prince is a harder sort than I took him for...
orson
...Why... Why do you speak of my wife in that way?
agrippina
Pay me no heed.
I'd say your wife and I could be... good friends.
Hahaha... Surely there is no problem, right?
Two wives blessed with wonderful husbands, befriending each other.
Does that not seem rather quaint to you, Orson?
orson
......
(Orson leaves.)
agrippina
Hah! Pitiable buffoon.
Yes, I shall become good friends with your wife indeed...
And when I am in need, she'll make a wonderful meatshield.
Hahahaha...
[Agrippina and Monica gain C-rank support with each other.]

Cormag

Combat

cormag
Have at you!

Combat w/ Valter

valter
Is that you, Cormag?
Even you have turned your back on your emperor?
cormag
......
valter
Don't tell me you stand there thinking you can beat me.
You're not strong enough. You know this to be true.
cormag
......
valter
If you swear fealty to Grado again, I may let you live.
You don't want to die an oath breaker, do you?
Well? Will you crawl before me and beg for forgiveness?
cormag
...Yes, I have broken my vows, Valter.
And yes, it may be I who falls when we tilt lances...
But a dog like you will never see me crawl.
valter
Brave words from a traitor.
Let's see if your lance is as sharp as your tongue.

Combat w/ Jude

cormag
What do you think you're doing, Jude?
jude
(sneers) What's wrong, boy?
Weren't you so high and mighty before?
The great General Cormag!

If you're so skilled, go ahead and prove it!
Come! Let me earn my stripes by defeating you!

cormag
Blast... Out of my way! I don't have time for this!

Defeat

cormag
Blast! My brother would never have gone out like this...

Ending

(Lyon approaches a wounded Cormag.)
lyon
Sir Cormag... That's your name, right?
cormag
...Why...do you not finish me...?
selena
Cormag, you are Glen's brother.
He is a paragon of knighthood. Why do you bring shame upon him?
How could you betray your vows? Betray your liege-- And your own brother?!
cormag
...I had no choice. Not after what they told me...
selena
What lies did they feed you to turn you against the emperor?
cormag
...The emperor... So you don't know, General Selena...
(Lyon starts.)
lyon
...!
selena
What are you talking about?
lyon
......
cormag
The emperor... He d--
(Valter rushes forward and kills Cormag.)
valter
(smirks) Whoops... My apologies.
I seem to have dropped my lance. Really hard on his head.
Oh, what a klutz I am, truly. Hahahahahahaha!
selena
Scum! He could not fight any longer!
valter
(serious) He was fighting plenty with his words.
If you ask me, he was merely trying to manipulate you.
And from where I stood, it seemed to be working...
Why, you should thank me! I saved you, Selena.
I saved you from being enthralled by rebellious lies.
selena
You dare imply an enemy's words would be enough to topple my loyalty?!
valter
Yes. Yes, I do. Good thing I'm here to watch over you, hm?
selena
You're a savage beast, Valter.
This is exactly what got your titles and your freedom revoked years ago!
This... This careless abandon, this heinous contempt for human life!
lyon
......
(Lyon turns away.)
valter
Selena, I understand you think highly of yourself.
But truly, you must understand. You live in my shadow.
You were ordained general when I was kicked out.
You filled my shoes. That's all you ever did, and all you'll ever do.
selena
Better to be in someone's shadow than to be a raving lunatic.
And you say I think highly of myself? Surely you jest.
A narcissistic braggart has no right to call anyone else arrogant.
valter
Oho, that's a good one! Let me tell you what I think about that...
(While they bicker, Lyon approaches Riev.)
lyon
Riev...
riev
Heh heh heh... This is not good.
It would seem the rebels know the truth...
I cannot imagine anything else he could have intended to reveal.
lyon
Lucky break that Valter's... Valter.
riev
I suggest you ponder on a good explanation, my prince.
It is only a matter of time now, before the truth reaches her.
She is our best military expert, and she commands respect.
I suspect our already small army would see many desertions, should she leave us... Pray ensure that does not happen.
lyon
...You would not suggest... You know.
Turning her into a more... obedient version of herself?
riev
This one, we need alive, I believe.

What? It's not so strange of me to say that.
You can't just throw monsters at every problem in life, my prince.
Sometimes one requires a bit of human ingenuity. Heh heh heh...

lyon
...If you say so.
I can see the port in the distance. Shouldn't be too long now.
Chances are more fighting awaits there. I'll stay with you for a bit.
Let's just hope those two don't tear each other's heads off...
riev
Heh heh heh... If it comes to that, I shall put a stop to their scuffle.
lyon
...All right. Thanks, Riev.
riev
I live to serve, as always. Heh heh heh...

Grado Keep

(A soldier escorts Vigarde into the throne room. Duessel approaches him.)
duessel
...Your Majesty...
knoll
In the flesh, if not soul. Vigarde, the Silent Emperor.
vigarde
......
knoll
A truly admirable man, until his life was forfeit.
duessel
By... By his own son?!
Did he kill the emperor, Knoll? Tell me the truth!
knoll
......
It does not matter at this point. What matters is what he did later.
He transformed his father into this lifeless puppet, and used it to wage war on the rest of the world.
All for the sake of power... Foolish, misguided power.
duessel
Are we certain there is nothing that can be done?
Is there is no part of him left in his body?
Please, Knoll! Look at him! He's... He looks alive!
Surely something could be done...
knoll
Yes. We could put him out of his misery.
duessel
...!
knoll
But...
garcia
I requested that we hold off on that for some time.
If we hold an official event, and reveal the truth to the citizenry...
The loyalty of Grado's deserters to us would be set in stone.
The populace would turn on Lyon for good.
Who knows, maybe even his own royal guard will question things.
It could be the move we need to win this...
But we need evidence of our claim, and he's the living... Well, he's the proof.
duessel
And in so doing, we shall become the same as the prince.
We, too, will be desecrating his remains for our own designs...
garcia
Just this once. Then we help him to his eternal rest.
Please, General. Surely you see the importance of this.
duessel
I do... And yet... Forgive me, Sir Garcia.
Seeing the emperor like this... It is most difficult.
It is a reminder that... I failed in my duties.
Completely and utterly... I failed him.
My every oath broken... My life's charge to ashes.
garcia
......
knoll
We have all failed, General. Some of us more than others.
Grado will spend a long time paying for our mistakes.
...But it could be a lot worse, if we don't do what we must.
duessel
...Of course... Do as you will.
I have made a promise. I shall see this through.
...Unlike my oaths to the emperor.
Your Majesty... I...

(closes eyes) ......

(Duessel leaves.)
garcia
Hmph... I cannot deny, despite everything, I sympathize.
knoll
You do not hate him?
garcia
How could I? I am... was a knight, the same as he.
Had this happened in Renais, I would have been in his position.
I'm trying to direct all of my hatred toward the one who deserves it.
knoll
......
garcia
...His presence is truly eerie, isn't it?
I know this man is not alive. There is no life in his eyes.
And yet... He stands. He blinks his eyes. He breathes.
...Let's hurry, so we can put him down as soon as possible.
knoll
It will take a few days to make the announcement.
We need to do this right, to reach as many people as possible.
But if Prince Lyon gets to us first...
garcia
Let him come. I will rip his throat open.
knoll
...I can only hope you'll be strong enough for it, Master Garcia...

Character Descriptions

Jude
Commander in Grado's army. His temper issues cost him a promotion to general.

Cormag
A wyvern knight of Grado. A gentle man, but a ferocious warrior.

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