!DOCTYPE html>

Chapter 1: Dawn of Destiny

Opening

narrator
Man and dragon once coexisted in harmony. However, man shattered that harmony with a sudden onslaught.
A great war now known as the Scouring was fought for dominion of the land.
Losses were tremendous for both sides, and in this war the very laws of nature itself were twisted and distorted, bringing chaos and unease...

Defeated and humbled, the dragons disappeared from the realm.
Mankind then began to rebuild and repopulate their newly won land.

A millennium has passed since then...

After defeating the dragons, the humans of Elibe quickly spread their culture and civilization to the farthest reaches of the continent..

In the west lies the Kingdom of Etruria, which is widely considered to possess the most refined culture in all of Elibe.
The Kingdom of Bern, with its powerful military and logical, pragmatic people, is located on the other side of the continent in the east.

These are the two most powerful nations in Elibe, with the weaker nations situated between them.

These smaller lands are the Lycian League, whose numerous territories are independently ruled by a number of marquesses that are bound by a vow of allegiance;
Ilia, where the people arduously till the frozen soil and many become mercenaries to earn money to survive;
and Sacae, where various clans ride through the plains on horseback.

Although there were occasional clashes between these nations, the majority of the people of Elibe lived in peace.
That peace, however, was not to last...

King Zephiel of Bern has commanded his forces to conquer the entirety of Elibe.
Bern's armies first attacked Sacae and Ilia, ruthlessly massacring all who opposed them.
Now, Bern is mounting a merciless invasion into Lycia.

Pherae is a territory of Lycia known for its beauty and honorable lords.
Pherae's Lord Roy was studying in the great territory of Ostia when the invasion began.
However, the sitting marquess and Roy's father, Eliwood, who has been ill,
has sent for Roy to return to lead Pherae's soldiers in defending against Bern.

Marquess Hector of Ostia is Eliwood's long-time friend and confidant, and leads the council of lords in Lycia. At the time Eliwood sent for Roy,
Marquess Ostia's daughter Lilina was in Pherae visiting Eliwood.

Upon receiving his father's message, Roy hurries home, taking with him his vassals.
However, unbeknownst to him, someone else has beaten him to his home.

A dark cloud hovers over Pherae. One which shall soon begin to grow.
Slowly, steadily, it shall engulf the entire continent in its oppressive shadow...

mercenary
Boss!
They've all hidden themselves inside the castle!
dieck
Good. Even Eliwood, the greatest knight in Lycia, is no match for an illness.
He should not have to exert himself. We will deal with whatever they throw at us.
mercenary
Still can't believe they're here...
Thought for sure Araphen or even Laus would get hit 'fore this place!
dieck
Everyone did. I think that's precisely why they've come here.
At the same time, that must also be why there's so few of them.
They couldn't have snuck a grand legion all the way here.
mercenary
You're right, boss... I think we can do this!
dieck
Stay focused. Do not forget who our foe is.
Bern has the strongest warriors in the continent. This won't be easy.

All right, men, listen up! Defend everyone in the castle!

(A brigand descends from the mountains.)
brigand
Heh heh, looks like a battle's gonna start real soon...
Works for me. I'll just slip by and go pay the locals a visit...

Castle Pherae

merlinus
Lord Eliwood!
Bernese forces have been sighted in the vicinity!
I expect we will be under attack before long.
eliwood
They are attacking us first? Blast it!
Were I not in this pitiful state, I would take care of them all myself...!
We'll have to rely on the mercenaries... I can only hope they will suffice.
lilina
Lord Eliwood...?
eliwood
Lilina, you must hide yourself.
This castle is going to become a war zone.
(Lilina steps forward.)
lilina
No, my lord. I can fight, too!
eliwood
Don't be absurd.
I couldn't face Hector if something happened to you in my own castle.
lilina
My father? But...
eliwood
(smiles) It's going to be all right.
Roy should be here any moment, so we just need to hold our own until then.
He'll drive off these dastards.
(Perez observes Dieck's mercenaries spread out to protect the area, then pulls back to report as Zephiel's forces arrive.)
murdock
Perez. What is the situation?
perez
A band of mercenaries has sortied to meet our vanguard.
brunnya
How about the marquess? Has he come out as well?
perez
He's inside. The reports of a crippling illness plaguing him must have been correct.
Jahn
It makes no difference either way. I have waited a millennium...
My strength has recovered, and it is greater than ever. I can feel it...
perez
...Of course. If I may continue.

(Jahn steps back.)

The princess of Ostia is apparently inside, as well.

murdock
Thank you, Perez.

(Perez steps back.)

Shall we commence our attack, Your Majesty?

zephiel
Yes, the time has come.
brunnya
Narcian has yet to arrive. Will we not wait for him?
murdock
We will lose the element of surprise if we linger here for too long.
Besides, it was Narcian's suggestion to sneak into Pherae through the mountains.
He would not dare shirk his duties after roping the king himself into his schemes.
He will arrive soon... I hope.
zephiel
Enough. Forget Narcian for the time being.
I shall ponder on a fitting punishment for him later.
But the battle comes first.
idunn
Your Highness. Shall I deploy the dragons?
jahn
Of course not. Have you not been listening, little girl?
We have no need of your feeble war dragons. I am here.
idunn
......
brunnya
...Shall we take point, then?
zephiel
Indeed. Let us go.

(The generals move out.)

Our target is the castle. Pherae falls today.

Enemy Turn 1

dieck
They're here...
Hold fast, men! I will protect the castle gates!
(Dieck moves to the castle gate.)

Conversations

Dieck

Combat

dieck
They couldn't take you down, could they?
Fair enough. It falls to me, then.

Death

dieck
I'm sorry... I must take my leave.

Locations

Southern House

man
Hey, YOU! Guess what?

We'll never yield to you invaders from Bern. Never!
...What, did you expect me to say something else?

Northeastern House

young man
(smiles) Listen!
If you wanna do well in battle you'd better use terrain wisely.
For example, if you're in a forest the trees will cover you.
That'll teach your enemies who they're dealing with.
...Yeah, I'm helpin' you. I don't like the marquess one bit, y'see.
He says I gotta pay taxes. Phooey, I say! Give 'im what for!

Northern House

woman
......
Out. Out of my house!

Village

young woman
Are you knights going to the castle?
...O-Oh, Elimine! D-Don't kill me, please!
Here, take this. It's all I have. Just spare my life, I beg you!
(The visitor receives 5000 gold.)

Ending

eliwood
Merlinus, take Lilina and go! Now!
merlinus
But--
eliwood
I will remain here and buy you some time. I can manage that much.

That is an order, Merlinus! Do it, now!

merlinus
...Milord... It has been an honor...
lilina
L-Lord Eliwood! No...!
(Merlinus takes Lilina and leaves. A few moments later, Zephiel enters.)
zephiel
Marquess Eliwood of Pherae.
eliwood
King Zephiel... You dastard...!
zephiel
Hmph... Is this truly the best Pherae has to offer?
A rabble of mercenaries, led by a weakling of a swordsman?
You disappoint me, Marquess.
eliwood
Nngh... It was all we could muster.
You didn't exactly warn us on short notice, Your Majesty.
zephiel
Is that all you have to say?
eliwood
What CAN I say? Shall I invoke how Pherae saved your life, once?
I doubt you even recall that...
zephiel
...Indeed. Indeed I do not... Eliwood.

Murdock.

(Murdock appears behind Eliwood and runs him through.)
eliwood
Urrrrk...

R-Roy... It's... all in your hands now...

(Eliwood dies.)
murdock
...The battle is over, King Zephiel.
What comes next?
zephiel
Araphen.
I hear the forces of Lycia are gathered there.
We shall strike before news of what has transpired here reaches them.
murdock
Very well, my king.
If you'll allow it, I shall inform Galle of our intentions.
I will have him and his men meet up with us en route to Araphen.
zephiel
I have no objections. Do as you say.
idunn
Shall I deploy the dragons, Your Highness?
zephiel
Pah. What need is there, if this is the state of Lycia's armies?
Keep the dragons ready. We will deploy them in due time.
idunn
Yes...
(Murdock and Idunn leave.)
zephiel
This is it. The beginning of the end for Lycia.
(Lilina and Merlinus find Roy at the outskirts of Pherae.)
lilina
Roy!
bors
Lady Lilina! What a relief it is to see you...
roy
Thank goodness, Lilina.
I received my father's message. I was beside myself with worry!
All right, stay back. We will make for the castle, and--
lilina
Roy... I-I'm so sorry...!
merlinus
Lord Roy... It is a tragedy...
B-Bern has invaded Pherae! The castle has fallen!
roy
......
No.
No... Don't tell me...!
marcus
The marquess! Where is the marquess!?
merlinus
He stayed behind to buy us time...
It is only thanks to his sacrifice that we have survived.
Forgive me, Lord Roy! I-I should never have left!
marcus
Lord Eliwood... I cannot believe it...
roy
......
Bern... Blackhearted fiends!

You will rue this day!

Character Descriptions

Zephiel
The mighty king of Bern. A talented and gifted genius.

Idunn
The Dark Priestess. Seeks to liberate the world by Zephiel's command.

Jahn
The final surviving true dragon of the Dragon Sanctuary.

Murdock
The head of Bern's Wyvern Generals. Zephiel's lifelong retainer.

Perez
A veteran sorcerer of Bern. One of Murdock's best commanders.

Brunnya
One of Bern's Wyvern Generals. Steadfastly loyal to Zephiel.

Dieck
A former arena fighter from Etruria. Leads a band of mercenaries.

Mercenary
Mercenaries hired by Eliwood of Pherae.

Bandit
Outlaws attempting to ransack villages in the chaos of war.