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Chapter 10A: Western Resistance

Opening

narrator
Three separate islands:
Fibernia, Caldonia, and Dia.
All of these islands are rich in minerals, and mining is the economic backbone.
The largest mine is located in Eburacum, in north Fibernia.
Once under the supervision of Etrurian nobles, it is now worked by and for the natives of the Isles.

Zephiel moves his forces to attack and conquer the mine.
To get to Eburacum, one must pass a castle located nearby.
At its helm stands Klein, a noble of Etruria who took the resistance's side
during their conflict with Arcardo.
The land of Armagh was granted to him after Arcardo's exile.
Ever since then, he has been a fair ruler, beloved by his people.
However, his short tenure as lord of Armagh will soon come to an end...

klein
What?!
soldier
We were as shocked as you, sire... But it's true!
They fly the banner of Bern... What shall we do?
klein
Send a messenger to Juteaux. Let Dame Echidna know.
We will adopt defensive positions for now and await her orders.
soldier
...Sire, with all due respect...
You are a nobleman, and we are ordained knights.
Let the famous freedom fighters handle this mess, I say.
Why should we take orders from a peasant brawler like Echidna?
klein
Because in the past months, she has proven to be a true leader.
I trust her judgment, and I am honored she saw me fit to watch over Armagh.
Have I made myself clear, soldier?
soldier
Er... Quite, sire. Forgive my impudence!
klein
Impudence forgiven. Now, then...
Let's see if we can make these fellows leave as suddenly as they came.
soldier
Aye, sire!
brunnya
King Zephiel, soldiers are flowing out from the castle.
zephiel
They have spotted us.
brunnya
It would seem that way. Your orders?
zephiel
Kill everyone and storm the castle. What else?
brunnya
Of course...

Turn 4

Village

woman
Guerrero... You're really leaving?
guerrero
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure.
woman
(smiles) ...We won't forget you, Guerrero.
You risked your life to get us food and supplies.
guerrero
(smiles) It was noooooooooothing.
woman
If you ever need anything, we'll be here.
guerrero
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks.

Turn 6

(Scollan enters from the south.)
scollan
Gyahaha... Look at that village over yonder!
I'm going to raze it and grab all the loot!
That's what being a brigand means, after all.

Man, it feels lonely doing this on my own, though...
What kinda brigand gang only has one brigand!?
I need to find me some brigand friends!
Then we can all burn some villages together!

Conversations

Kel & Scott

kel
It would appear the gods have smiled upon you as well...
scott
Kel? Wouldn't have expected you to join these guys too.
What happened to your honor?
kel
The same thing that happened to yours, Scott.
I chose to preserve my life.
scott
Heh... Don't look so sullen, my friend. It was the smart choice.
kel
Swordsmen live and die by the blade.
I am a disgrace to my trade...
...But I've known that for a long time.
scott
No hard feelings, I trust?
kel
Sigh... What would the point be? No hard feelings, Scott.
scott
(smiles) Excellent, excellent...

(serious) You know something, Kel? I don't get you.
You're always going on about your pride and honor...
But you sell your skills to the highest bidder. How come?

kel
Pride and honor don't put food on the plate.
I do what needs to be done.
scott
Certainly, but I have a rough idea of how Sacae works.
The clans are close-knit communities.
You wouldn't be wandering the land alone without a reason.
Did you have a falling out with your clan or something?
kel
...You could say that.
Or, more precisely, I misjudged them.
scott
How so?
Ah, forgive me. I'm being nosy.
kel
Don't fret.
I was born in Bulgar to a merchant couple.
Then they died, and I had to fend for myself...
I ended up being taken in by a member of the Djute.
I thought that'd be a fine place to hone my swordarm...
And perhaps finally learn what it means to be Sacaen.
...Instead, I learned the Djute are a blight upon Sacae.
scott
That's when you left, huh.
I feel for you, brother.
kel
Do you, now?
scott
I mean that. You might not believe me, but...
I was sad to see my crew grow so hostile towards me.
We had such good times, before... It all went awry.
And now that I'm on my own, back on square one, well...
It is a horrible thing, to feel like you don't belong anywhere.
You and I, we share that feeling now.
kel
Perhaps you are correct.
But you do not intend to let things stand for long.
scott
Of course not. I've been through worse troubles.
One day I'll rise back up...
(smiles) When that happens, I will remember your name, Kel.
kel
...Feel free to contact me, when you can pay me.
If I'm still alive.
scott
Heh... I'll keep that in mind.

Tick & Flaer

flaer
Ahh, you are Sir Galle's lieutenant.
tick
Only one of his commanders.
You are General Narcian's lieutenant, are you not?
flaer
Indeed... Not the best post to hold at this moment.
It becomes less and less prestigious a position by the day.
I fear some of the king's disdain for my superior is spilling over to me...
tick
You have my sympathies, Sir Flaer.
I was fortunate. Mine is a just, level-headed superior.
Serving under him has been my honor.
flaer
Well, you do enjoy some notoriety, yourself.
As one level-headed enough to match even Sir Galle.
It is no wonder General Murdock holds your division in high regard,
when it counts men like Sir Galle and yourself among its own.
tick
You flatter me. It's nothing, really.
I've never been one to let my emotions get to my head.
Even as a child, I always took care to think before acting.
(smiles) Heh, the other kids often called me a bore.
flaer
I may be your senior, but I have plenty to envy you for.
It feels like every day, I drown in insurmountable stress...
tick
(serious) Nonsense. Serving someone like Narcian, that is only understandable.
Besides, in my humble opinion, you're handling it quite well.
If Narcian's platoon hasn't sunken lower, it is in great part thanks to you.
flaer
(smiles) You flatter me, my friend.
tick
(smiles) Have heart, Sir Flaer, and bide your time.
Everyone knows Sir Galle is well on his way to become Wyvern General.
When the time comes, I shall speak to Sir Galle on your behalf.
flaer
(serious) I would owe you quite the debt, my friend.
But I suppose first we'll need to find General Narcian...
tick
(frowns) As long as Narcian holds the position, Sir Galle cannot advance.
And as long as he remains missing, he cannot be relieved of it.
I must admit, it is positively vexing...
flaer
Tell me about it.
I have served in this army for nearly 20 years, and in all that time...
Never have I worked with a soldier so appalling as General Narcian.

A-Ah, but I should not speak so. He is still my superior...

tick
I don't believe anybody will judge you.
But yes, I suppose we mustn't forget our place.
Nor the battle.
flaer
Quite right. Let's get back into the fray.
tick
After you.

Zephiel & Guerrero

guerrero
Who aaaaaaaaaaaare you?
zephiel
Zephiel, King of Bern.
guerrero
Are you heeeeeeeere to hurt the villageeeeeeeeers?
zephiel
Only if they get in my way.
guerrero
I seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
You look pretty strooooooooooong.
zephiel
I... Oh, will you stop talking like that?
guerrero
Talking like whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
zephiel
Like that! Please, it's annoying.
Only Narcian gets to annoy me. Anybody else who does, dies.
...He should too, in fact... Be that I knew where he is.
guerrero
Cleaaaaaarly my brobdingnagiaaaaaan lexicooooooooooooooon has
dauuuuuuuuunted you. There is no cauuuuuuse for dismaaaaaaaay!
zephiel
...All right, now you've completely lost me.
How about you aim that thing at me before I slash you to pieces?
Put up a fight before you perish.
guerrero
Noooooooooooo. No violeeeeeeeeeence.
I will jooooooin you. Make suuuuure you fight for a goooooood cause.
zephiel
Wh... What?!
guerrero
Let's gooooooooooooooo.
(Guerrero leaves.)
zephiel
I... I don't...

(Zephiel sputters.)

Oh, humanity. So incomprehensible... How I yearn for your extermination!

Maggie/Rose & Scollan

scollan
Ho ho! What do we have here? A brigand! You're a brigand, right?
maggie/rose
Good eye, sweetie!
scollan
I'd know a brigand anywhere. We all got the same look in our eyes.
The look of someone who enjoys burning down houses!
The same EVIL look!
maggie/rose
I guess, yeah.
scollan
Tell me, this army you're with... Do they raze villages often?
maggie/rose
We do commit the odd war crime, yeah.
scollan
Awesome! Tell your bossman that Scollan is at his service!
maggie/rose
Nice. Welcome to the team!
scollan
Heh heh, now where's the nearest village?!

Klein

Combat

klein
Don't think for a moment that just because I am young, I will be an easy opponent! Have at you!

Death

klein
I can't die like this... Clarine...

Locations

House

old woman
Brigands and pirates... They were all just as innocent as anyone when they were young.
Even you were innocent when you were young, I'm sure.
I've heard rumors of King Zephiel's childhood... Oh, it's dreadful.
I almost cannot blame him for turning out the way he did...

Village

woman
Grr... I can't do anything against you, can I...
Help yourself to whatever you want.
I only ask that you leave our homes intact...
(The visitor takes a Swordreaver.)

Ending

jahn
(grins) Humans burn so easily, don't they. Hah... It's pitiful, really.
Of course, you wouldn't know, since you refuse to transform.
idunn
...His Highness did not order it.
jahn
(frowns) Man... You're such a drag. Your head's just empty.
Lights are on, but no one's home. You're even worse than your toys!
idunn
......
jahn
Bah. I don't even know why I bother trying to converse with you.
I wish "Your Highness" would order you to tell a joke or something.

...Then again, who else could I speak to? Everyone else is a human.
Or Zephiel. Jury's still out on that one.
No human could possibly grant an engaging conversation to a dragon.
The last TRUE dragon, might I add!

mieu
...Uh, h-hi?
jahn
GAH!

(Mieu wanders in, startling Jahn.)

Who DARES sneak up on--
Oh... What a tiny little human.

mieu
S-Sorry if I scared you, sir... I-I...
I had better get going...
jahn
No, please. Don't be afraid. I know I look a bit scary...
And I am. You should be scared. I should terrify you, in fact.
mieu
I... I just came to give Mr. Klein this basket of sweet buns...
Do you know where Mr. Klein is?
jahn
I know nobody by that name. Unless...
idunn
The man guarding the castle is dead. We killed him.
(Jahn starts.)
jahn
I-Idunn! You can't just tell her that...!
mieu
...Does that mean... He's gone where my big brother and my mom went...?
They left and didn't come back... Did Mr. Klein go visit them?
jahn
...This human... It's so small... It's enough to make me cry...!
I-I didn't even know dragons could cry... Sniff...
(Zephiel walks in.)
Zephiel
Hmph... Are you certain you truly are a dragon, Jahn?
Jahn
YAAAAHH!
(Jahn jumps away from Zephiel.)
jahn
Zephiel! You psychopath, why would you scream in my ear like that?!
zephiel
There was nothing of worth in this keep, save for this sword.
...Who is this young girl, Jahn?
jahn
I... I don't actually know. What's your name, little one?
mieu
Mieu, Mister... I'm Lot's little sister.
zephiel
I care not who Lot is.
mieu
...I-I don't like you!
(Mieu hides behind Jahn.)
zephiel
...Bah. Let us go, Idunn. This is idiotic.
We must continue on to Eburacum.
The mines won't take themselves.
(Zephiel leaves.)
idunn
Yes, Your Highness.
(Idunn leaves.)
jahn
...Sheesh.

(smiles) So... Where are you from?

mieu
A village west of here... B-But since my brother left, I've lived in Eburacum...
jahn
(frowns) ...Oh, dear.
(Zephiel obtains a Wyrmslayer.)

Character Descriptions

Guerrero
The last guy with this face, I promise. His name means "warrior" in Spanish. He's Warrior the Warrior, that's hilarious.

Scollan
A brigand.

Klein
An Etrurian commander and noble. Watches over Armagh.

Armagh
Soldiers defending Castle Armagh.

Robber
Bandits roaming the Western Isles.