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Chapter 5: General Narcian

Opening

narrator
Marquess Laus had been working with Bern against his allies in Lycia.
Zephiel's contempt for mankind grows greater than ever as his conquest continues.
Still heading for Ostia, Zephiel moves through a treacherous mountain pass...
brigand
Boss!
Our boys just got back from scouting the village.
rutger
...I am not your boss.
How many times must I say it? I am only passing through...
brigand
But Boss, something's different today.
They say the head honcho of BERN is here!
They're gonna run through us, eat us for breakfast, and leave so little of us, even the vultures will die! Of hunger!
C'mon, you can't leave! Not today! We gotta stick together!
rutger
......
Bern...

...Fine. I will help you.

brigand
Oh, thank you! Thank you, boss!
With that blade o' yours, we can actually do this!
C'mon, everyone! Let's go! The boss has our back!
(The brigand leaves.)
rutger
...Today is the day. Vengeance is at hand...!
murdock
Where in blazes is Narcian?
I have overlooked his absence up until now, but no longer.
Lycia was his responsibility. This prolongued disappearance is inexcusable.
brunnya
Narcian... It's telling that the king does not seem to remember he's missing.
That a man like him stands shoulder to shoulder with us Wyvern Generals...
Ours is a nation that values might above most things, but even Bern seems to have a weakness for blue blood.
murdock
Blood doesn't get much bluer than Narcian's, that is true.
Much like you'd have a difficult time finding a man more dimwitted than him.
In many ways, he is a truly exceptional individual.
brunnya
Haha... Oh, well. I suppose he'll turn up eventually.
He may be a pompous braggart, but he cherishes his station.
He'd not risk it so carelessly... Would he?
murdock
We have Galle with us. We don't need him.
...But we have tarried long enough. The king orders to resume marching.
galle
Be careful, general. I do not like the look of these mountains.
We'll find trouble there. I'm sure of it.
murdock
Trouble may find us at its own peril.
Onward, men! We make for Ostia, per His Majesty's orders!

NPC Turn 1

Village

windham
I am not certain this is a good idea, Commander Raith...
raith
We know the general is being kept by the Marquess of Thria till the morrow.
All we have to do is break inside under cover of darkness, find him, and escape before we are noticed. Simple.
windham
The general can sit and twiddle his thumbs for a few more hours.
What we need to do is take this information to King Zephiel.
Why lurk in the shadows when we can take the entire place by force?
raith
The king has more important matters to attend to! Ostia, for one!
windham
If the king decides Narcian is not important enough to rescue, then that's that. His word is law. Too bad for the good general.

Come now, Raith. I have no horse in this race. I'm not a member of the army.
But you? You could replace him as Wyvern General, my friend...

raith
Psch. Everyone knows the king is waiting for an excuse to give the position to Galle.
I'm just the lowly commander of a border watch brigade... I don't stand a chance.
windham
Oh, don't look so down. See, bringing this intel to the king will earn you rapport!
And if nothing else, Narcian will owe you a favor, if he lives and keeps his stripes.
A bit of a long shot, but hey. Every little bit helps in the race to glory!
It certainly beats dying on Lycian steel, which is what will happen if you go in alone.
raith
...You may be correct.
(smiles) You're something else, you know that, Windham?
I have never met a priest so... unpriestly as you.
windham
(smiles) Hahaha! Well, as they say, clothes don't make the man.
raith
Or at least, a holy man.
Fear not. Should fortune smile upon me, I shan't forget your wise counsel.
windham
That is all I can ask for.
Now... Shall we find His Majesty?
(Raith and Windham join the battle.)

Enemy Turn 2

brigand
'Aight, everyone! The boss gave me the okay!
Let's go and kick some Bernese butt, everyone!
mitan
I don't remember sayin' nothing, you dolt!
brigand
Whuzzat? Thought I heard someone speak.
Oohhh, right, it's you! Yeah, you're no boss.
mitan
Dammit, guys! You're being morons!
How long was I the boss? Why'd you betray me?
brigand
'Cause some INCREDIBLY strong guy showed up.
With his INCREDIBLY rare and powerful sword.
And his INCREDIBLY superior swordsmanship skills.
The only thing INCREDIBLE about you is your bad temper, Mitan.
mitan
You little... What's that got to do with anything?!
What, ya don't think I'm polite enough during our raids?
Should I've sent advance notices to villages before we hit 'em?
Some nice-smellin' flowers to leave on the doorsteps?
Little gift baskets with a postcard that says "happy recovery"?
brigand
You'd happily do that if you found a village full of girls.
mitan
...You wanna say that again?
brigand
G-Geck!

(He backs away.)

(smirks) Heh... Well, it don't matter either way.
Ain't no way the boys are ever gonna follow ya again.
We're gonna be juuust fine with the new boss, if ya ask me.

mitan
Yeah, well I didn't ask you!
I'm gonna be just fine without the lot of you, too!
brigand
Hahaha... Whatever you say, Mitan!
(The brigand leaves. Mitan fumes.)
mitan
Dammit! Dammit all!
Can today get any worse?!

When the gate is approached

young man
A-Ah! Bernese knights...?!

H-Hold on! I'll open the gate. Just, please, spare me...!

(He opens the gate.)

If Rutger is still alive

rutger
What? There was a gate there?
......

Conversations

Brunnya & Mitan

mitan
(smiles) Well, lookie here. Another girl in this battlefield.
Was starting to think I was the only one.
brunnya
I am not a "girl." I am Wyvern General Brunnya of Bern.
mitan
(serious) My apologies, ma'am. I'm Mitan.
Used to lead this pack of idiots, till this one merc came 'round.
He stole my crew from right under my nose!
Damn him for playing me for a fool...
brunnya
Aha... Well, this is all very interesting.
If you've no wish to fight, you can surrender.
Now, unless you intend on facing me, I shall--
mitan
Wait! You didn't let me finish!
brunnya
I have not the time nor the interest to listen further.
mitan
Hey, c'mon, have a heart. I was almost done!
Just was gonna ask... Take me with ya!
brunnya
...Why would I do that?
I can't recruit every cutthroat that makes puppy dog eyes at me.
For all I know, you're trying to trick me so you may do His Majesty harm.
mitan
Do I look like the kinda person that'd do a thing like that?
...Don't answer that. Look, I know better than to mess with Bern.
brunnya
Good. Stand down, then.
mitan
O-Okay... If it pleases ye...
(Mitan lays down her weapon and kneels.)
brunnya
What in the world are you--
mitan
Look, see? On my knees. You like that better?
brunnya
......
mitan
...E-Er...
brunnya
...You want to join our army, was that it?
mitan
Pretty much.
brunnya
...Sigh. Fine. I will speak with the king on your behalf.
Just... please, stand up now.
mitan
(smiles) That's 'bout all I'd ask ye for!
Just about...
brunnya
...?
Well, get moving, then. The king likes immediate results.
Prove your worth today and you may be rewarded.
Fail, and you'll show your face before us at your own peril.
That is all.
(Brunnya leaves.)
mitan
...Phweeew! Maybe today won't be so bad after all.

Sigune & Mitan

mitan
(smiles) Well, lookie here. Another girl in this battlefield.
Was starting to think I was the only one.
sigune
What do we have here? A female barbarian...
Not a common sight.
mitan
(serious) Yeah, tell me that.
It was so difficult to find more girls for my band...
And then that snake ran off with the lot of 'em...
Ah, but you don't care 'bout that.
sigune
Hmm... So, shall we fight now, or...?
mitan
I'd rather not... er...
sigune
Sigune.
mitan
Mitan! Listen 'ere. I don't wanna fight ya lot.
I used to lead this pack, ya see. But then...
This jerk of a merc came 'round and stole my guys!
I can tell, the way they look at me...
Won't be long till they decide they want me outta the way.
Before that happens, I'd like to find a new band for me.
sigune
That's not really my decision to make.
I'm just a mercenary, myself.
I follow orders and kill who I'm told to.
And right now, that's your allies... and you.
mitan
Okay! Okay, fair enough. I surrender...
(Mitan lays down her weapon and kneels.)
mitan
Look, see? On my knees. You like that better?
sigune
Oh, my...
(smiles) You don't look particularly upset about doing this, you know.
You need to work on your poker face, my girl.
mitan
...E-Er...
sigune
(serious) But, you know what? Fine.
I'll speak with the king on your behalf.
Chop off a few bandit heads. That should help your case.
mitan
(grins) Hah! My pleasure, ma'am!
sigune
(smiles) I'm sure... See you around.
(Sigune leaves.)
mitan
...Phweeew! Maybe today won't be so bad after all.

Idunn & Mitan

mitan
(smiles) Well, lookie here. Another girl in this battlefield.
Was starting to think I was the only one.
idunn
......
mitan
(annoyed) Oi! Ya deaf or somethin'? I'm talking to you!
Yeah, you! The mousey girl in the bundle o' robes!
Stop ignorin' me!
idunn
......
mitan
Wait... Are ya mute, or somethin'? That it?
A-Ah, I'm sorry. Didn't realize...
idunn
His Highness hasn't ordered me to talk.
mitan
Eh!?
Wait, whaddya mean, His Highness hasn't...?
Who does this "Highness" guy think he is!?
He can't just tell a girl she can't talk!
You're yer own person, gal. Talk if you wanna.
idunn
...I do as His Highness commands...
mitan
...Why... Oh, that's just...

(Mitan huffs.)

That's it! I'm tagging along with you.
I was gonna try and join your army either way.
That merc, he stole command of my crew from me...
If I stick around, I'll be toast sooner than later.
But now that I've met you? It's clear what I gotta do.
(smiles) I'm gonna show this Highness person not to mess with you!
Count on Mitan to help ya, little friend!

(Mitan leaves.)
idunn
......
I shall tell His Highness about this new ally...

Rutger

Combat

rutger
...! Bern...
I will tear you to shreds with my killing edge!

Death

rutger
...No...more...

Locations

House 1

young woman
This whole area is really perfect for bandits. It's no wonder they appeared.
They can cross mountains and a bandit on a peak is a force to be reckoned with.
Luckily, this mercenary came by a couple weeks ago and reined them all in.
Now they almost behave like a bonafide mercenary troop! Can you believe that?

House 2

old woman
If you can, try to occupy forts!
That'll stop enemy reinforcements from showing up!
Enemy reinforcements are stinky, they kill your healers before you can react!

House 3

man
I was there when Araphen was taken...
The wyvern riders of Bern were terrifying enough...
But then a dragon engulfed the Lycian Army in flame...
Oh Elimine, please tell me it was a dream...
(Jahn butts in.)
jahn
I'm afraid not. Tremble in fear, feeble human!
man
...I'm sorry, should I be scared, or something?
jahn
Wha-- Why, you... You...

(Jahn fumes.)

Urgh! Humans!

Village

man
Hold on. Before you go, take this lance with you.
It was once wielded by a knight called Sir Gant.
The stories say he bested many a foe with this lance!
...Why am I helping you, you say? Well...
(The man disappears.)
man
Perhaps I... simply do not exist at all!
Ooo... ooo, a ghost!
girl
Dad, quit playing around... You're embarrassing me!
man
Aww.
(The visitor receives Gant's Lance.)

Ending

jahn
Hmph... I don't understand why I should play chaperone for you puny men...
But a man from the church that worships that fake deity, Elimine, is here.
He and a soldier claiming to be of our army say they have information for you.
zephiel
Stand aside, Jahn. Let them through.
jahn
Hmph...
(Raith and Windham enter.)
raith
Well met, Your Majesty. I am Commander Raith.
zephiel
......
raith
A-Ah, well... Perhaps I should be more specific--
(Windham steps forward.)
windham
If I may. We have information regarding the whereabouts of General Narcian.
zephiel
...Narcian... I had forgotten about him.

Where is he?

windham
Taken captive, Your Highness.
Currently, he is to spend the night in the castle of Thria's marquess.
Then he will be taken to Ostia, where I expect he'll be publicly hanged.
zephiel
......
As it were. We will keep going to Ostia.
raith
Oh, well, actually, if--
murdock
My king, Thria is on the way to Ostia.
It will be unavoidable to pass through, and I would advise taking the place.
Otherwise we risk getting hit from behind when we engage the Ostians.
zephiel
Hmmm... Very well, Murdock.
In that case, let us not waste any time.
What is the quickest way to Thria?
raith
I know that! We--
windham
We should continue west from this keep, through another mountain pass.
After that, I know the way.
zephiel
Do you? Are you Lycian, then?
windham
Oh, no, I am an Etrurian priest. Windham, at your service.
I merely happen to be well-traveled. Thria in particular I know well.

I wish to be helpful to you, my king. Etruria... has not been kind to me.

zephiel
I will take you at your word, then. Join the men - You will accompany us.
windham
Count this humble servant honored to be of assistance. Hahaha...
zephiel
Mm. Murdock, assemble the troops!
(Everyone sets out, leaving Raith alone.)
raith
D...
Dammit!

(Raith fumes.)

That dastard completely overshadowed me!
Raith, you cad! This is why you have not been promoted yet...
I must stop being so docile. I must seize the initiative, and--

perez
You! Rookie! What are you doing?!
The king has ordered that all troops fall in line!
raith
A-Ah... Forgive me, sir! On it, sir!
perez
Make it quick, now!
(Perez leaves.)
raith
......

W-Who even was that...?

ruben
Hello! It's me, Ruben. The creator of the hack!
I just have a small message for you.

I could not write proper support convos due to technical difficulties.
To compensate, from here on, optional conversations will become available.
At the end of each chapter narration, you will be shown the available optional talks.
These are between characters already in your army, and have no gameplay effects.
Feel free to deploy the units, read the convos and then restart if you like.
Nothing else!
Good luck going forward!

Character Descriptions

Windham
An acolyte of the St. Elimine Church who turned against his order.

Raith
A knight of Bern watching over the border. Meek, yet ambitious.

Mitan
A former bandit leader who lost control of her gang.

Rutger
A young man seeking revenge on Bern.

Bandit
Outlaws following Rutger's command.