!DOCTYPE html>

Chapter 8x: The Blazing Blade

Opening

narrator
Henning's account piques Zephiel's curiosity.
The brigand-turned-sellsword shows them to a cave on the outskirts of Ostia, where a legendary weapon is hidden.
The cave, located at the foot of a volcano, will be no small obstacle for Zephiel...
soldier
G-Gwendolyn! An army's in the cave!
gwendolyn
What?!
No... Then that means--
soldier
Ostia must've fallen... We failed...
gwendolyn
Blast! It's my fault!
If only it hadn't taken me so long to get this blade out...
soldier
Well, you have it out now, right?
We can use it against 'em! Avenge Lady Lilina!
gwendolyn
I-I don't think I can use this... It's such a large sword...
I don't even know how to wield a sword!
I barely even know how to swing a lance.

(Gwendolyn flounders.)

I was knighted yesterday, for goodness's sake!

soldier
Nobody here is experienced, Gwendolyn.
That's why we were sent to get the sword while everyone else stayed.
I don't think there is anyone among us skilled enough to use a legendary weapon.
gwendolyn
...But at the very least, we can keep it from falling into their hands.
Let's fight them, everyone! In the name of Ostia!
soldier
Hear, hear!
(The soldier leaves.)
gwendolyn
...If only you had been here instead, Bors...
henning
This way.
The place we're looking for is on the other side of this crevice.
Take care not to fall in. Should be obvious why.
zephiel
It's unbearably hot in here...
You said you set up base here. How did you withstand the heat?
henning
Beggars can't be choosers. It beat the dungeons.
It's precisely these awful conditions that made it a secure hideout.
Or at least, I thought that would've been the case...
zephiel
Let's do this as quickly as we can.
Take out any Ostian worms you encounter, and find whatever it is they came here seeking!

Enemy Turn 1

heddwyn
More people? Reinforcements at last!
No, wait a moment... Could that be...

(Heddwyn starts.)

T-They're here? Bern is here?!
No! That cannot be! Why would they be here...?
Even I don't know what we're doing here!
Nobody ever tells me anything...

(He flounders.)

Blast! Where could my little brother be in all this...
I pray he did not fall at Ostia...!

Conversations

Debias & Henning

debias
Huff... Huff... Puff...
Ohh, it's too hot in this place... Ough...
henning
What have we here... Legance's little helper.
(Debias startles.)
debias
Ah! Oh, it's just you... The mercenary...
henning
You look a little down under the weather.
Here, take this. It's a wet rag. Put it on your neck.
debias
Nngh... Guuhh... Yes, that's better... Thank you...
henning
You know, I've been wondering...
Why do you follow that prick Legance around?
I followed his money, but what's your reason?
debias
Well... He was my commander. Saved me a few times, too.
I tried my best, but working hard, it's hard... I get tired easily.
I would've been fired a few times, but he always defended me.
He said, "this man is a true noble Ostian! Give him another chance!"
henning
Ahh, now I understand. You're a blue-blooded squire, are you.
Lemme guess. Your mommy and daddy got angry at you.
They said, "finish your veggies or we'll send you to the army!"
You called their bluff. Then they bought you a position in the army.
Told you to learn some discipline or whatever. Am I right?
debias
Wow... Spot on, actually. How'd you know?
henning
Sigh... I know it's been years, but don't you recognize me?
I used to be the gardener at your grand state.
Until one day, some vines on the manor's wall caught on fire.
Gave your ol' grandma one heck of a fright.
Got fired on the spot.
Daddy made sure to badmouth me all over town, too.
Couldn't find a job again. That's how I ended up like this.
debias
W-Well... Ergh...
henning
...It was you, was it not. You burned those vines.
debias
Y-You see...

(Debias trembles.)

Ooogh, p-please don't hurt me! I b-beg you...!

henning
Quit making a ruckus. I'm not gonna hurt you.
You were a dumb kid. It's okay. We're all dumb at that age.
I'm just a bit sad that you're still dumb after all this time...
debias
...Mmph...
henning
Want my advice? Start eating those veggies.
Someone so young as you shouldn't look like this.
debias
...Oof... I think I need to sit down...
henning
Bah... Go ahead. Have a seat.
Let the rest of us risk life and limb out here...
debias
Thanks... All right, where can I...
(Debias leaves.)
henning
...Ostia's creme de la creme, clearly. What a disgrace...
Poor Lord Hector must be rolling in his grave.

Windham & Martel

windham
What in the world is this... A piece of Hell on Earth?
Impossible... But it certainly feels like it.
martel
I'd be surprised if you've read enough scripture to know what Hell looks like...
Windham.
(Windham starts.)
windham
(smiles) Martel, my brother!
Fancy seeing you here. Still the big-shot army man?
martel
Not yet "big-shot", but I have great plans for the future.
windham
(frowns) Of course you do. You always have.
"Brilliant" plans, isn't that right, Martel?
martel
Go mock someone else, Windham.
windham
(smirks) Hey, you're the one who started the conversation.

(serious) Still, this truly is something...
I've traveled the world over, but I've never seen such a place.
Volcanos are a rarity in Elibe. So close to civilization, more so.
What could Ostia's settlers possibly have been thinking...

martel
The world over, eh. That must have taken a lot of time.
You must have taken some long vacations.
windham
I did, yes. Four years, and counting.
martel
In the army, that would be called desertion.
windham
Yes, well, the clergy is not the army.
And besides, Yoder himself sent me on a pilgrimage.
He said I was to become enlightened or something.
I became enlightened all right. I have to thank him for that.
I realized there are more important things than faith.
Thus, I now take a more... relaxed approach to my spiritual duties.
martel
Your crass religious views disgust me, you atheist.
windham
(grins) Hahaha! Haha... I shall take that as a compliment, Brother.
martel
Why keep the habit, then? Don a different attire.
Rid yourself of it and bare your debauchery for the world to see.
windham
(serious) The holy robe is often convenient. People tend to trust a priest.
What's your excuse? You've never even been a member of the church.
martel
I like it. It's comfortable, looks good, easy to conceal armor underneath...
And yellow is my favorite color. It's the color of brilliance.
windham
And you think you're in any position to call me names.
I may not be the most stalwart believer, but you're a heretic!
martel
I'll believe it when a real priest says it.
windham
(smiles) Ahh... It's good to see you again, little brother.
martel
(smiles) I suppose it is, at that.

Debias & Heddwyn

debias
(smiles) Hedd... Oh, it's so good to see you...
heddwyn
(smiles) Deb! Likewise, my brother!
I thought these were Bern's forces, but clearly not!
It really was reinforcements!
debias
(frowns) Ergh... N-Not exactly, Hedd...
heddwyn
(frowns) W-What do you mean...?
debias
Well... Remember the rebellion? General Legance's rebellion?
heddwyn
I do... I managed to strike one of those rebels down myself!
I was so proud of myself that day...
debias
Yes, well... I was a part of that.
heddwyn
Oh.
That does explain why I've not seen you around lately...
debias
And now, we've joined the Bernese Army.
heddwyn
Oohh...
Y-You could've told me, Deb...
debias
Sorry...

...Listen, Hedd, I really'd rather not fight you...
You'd make mincemeat out of me anyway...

heddwyn
N-No! Perish the thought! I could never hit you, Deb!
No, I think... I might just...
(smiles) Yes, I think I'll join you guys. What's the worst that could happen?
debias
(smiles) Ahh... You were always the bold one...
It's nice to see you again, Hedd.
heddwyn
I agree, little brother.

Gwendolyn

Combat

gwendolyn
I-In Ostia's name!

Death

gwendolyn
Wait... I can't die here...

This can't be happening...

Ending

If Henning is alive
henning
Well, this is the place.
Looks like they already got the thing open.
They were way weaker than my guys were...
Guess there must've been a trick to it.
zephiel
Irrelevant. What matters is we have it.
...A legendary weapon... A weapon designed to kill dragons.
henning
Phew. Who would've thought?
If only I'd known I was sitting on such a treasure...
Think I could hold onto it? As thanks for the tip.
zephiel
Do not push your luck, sellsword.
henning
Ah, well. Had to try.
(Henning leaves.)
If Henning is dead
zephiel
Here it is...
...A legendary weapon... A weapon designed to kill dragons.
zephiel
I cannot allow such monstrosities to fall into enemy hands.
Humanity must not be allowed a chance.
I shall throw this into the magma! Let it boil, as it deserves!
jahn
Nothing would please me more than watching this wretched thing melt.
But... Dragons aren't the only things it can be used on, you know.
This is an incredibly well-crafted sword...
It will make mincemeat out of men just the same.
Not to mention, the wyverns of any traitors we may find along the way...
zephiel
Hmm... You have a point, Jahn. We shall keep it for now.
jahn
Heh... Oh, the irony. Humanity's beloved symbols of hope, utilized against them by us! I love it!

[From here, the default ending of Chapter 8 plays out.]

Character Descriptions

Heddwyn
A mage of Ostia. Cowardly and untalented.

Gwendolyn
A knight serving Ostia. Tasked with retrieving Durandal.

Ostia
Fresh recruits in the Ostian army.