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Chapter 12: Hero of the West

To access Chapter 12x, the chapter must be cleared in under 20 turns.

Opening

narrator
To finish his conquest of the Western Isles, Zephiel heads for Juteaux, the Isles' largest city and its capital.

His final obstacle shall be Echidna, who is in charge of overseeing the Western Isles.
A gifted warrior, she formed the resistance and led them to victory against Arcardo.

Zephiel, impatient to finish what he considers no more than a preamble, prepares his soldiers to rid the Isles of any who would defy him...

echidna
Bernese knights... Come to play, have you?
Well, we're not about to hand over the Isles to you.
Etruria could not contain us. What makes you think you can?
It cost the blood of many to earn what we have today.
We will not allow some warmongering king to take it from us!
We will fight! We will protect our home!
elffin
Echidna...
echidna
Elffin. Thank you for everything you've done for us.
But at this point... Ah, I think we've tip-toed around it long enough.
Prince. You've gotta get out of here. Now.
elffin
...! You... You knew?
echidna
Of course I knew. What, you think I was born yesterday?
The Etrurian court was far too kind to us. Something wasn't right.
So, I looked around me. Tried to find our guardian angel.
You always reeked to high heaven of nobility, Elffin.
(smiles) But... not the bad kind.
elffin
......
echidna
(serious) I'm just curious to know who Larum was, if you don't mind telling me.
I always found it strange a girl like her was so eager to look after you.
You never seemed her type. Or her yours, for that matter.
elffin
...Great General Douglas's adoptive daughter.
He saved my life, and she took care of me while I recovered.
I owe them a great debt. One I can never repay.
Not anymore.
echidna
A brave girl. For what little it's worth, I'm sorry we couldn't save her.
elffin
...I am at your disposal, as always. What would you have me do?
echidna
Leave, Elffin. I already said it.
Perhaps with someone like you at the top, Etruria will change.
That's something only you can do.
But you can only do it if you make it out of here.
So go, before they surround the city.
elffin
......
I will never forget the days I spent with the resistance.
Neither will I forget you, Echidna.
Your strength, your determination, your dedication to your people...
I can only hope I will one day be half the leader you are.
echidna
(smiles) Oh, please. You keep that up, you'll make me blush.
C'mon. Get going, now. Change Etruria for the better!
And... please, make sure you give General Douglas my condolences.
And my thanks.
elffin
You have my word.
Thank you once again... And farewell.
(Elffin leaves.)
echidna
Goodbye, Elffin. Stay safe...
zephiel
Hmph... So this is it. The Isles' greatest city.
Not much to look at, is it.
murdock
And yet we need it, if we are to wage war on Etruria.
zephiel
I know that much.
All troops, full speed ahead! This place shall be ours today!

Enemy Turn 1

dory
Grrrr...

(Dory performs a dance.)

I just... can't get a hang of this dance!
Consarnit, I'll never make a livin' as a performer like this...
Okay, one more time...

(Dory tries again.)

Sigh... Man, dancin's hard...
Pillaging was so much easier. But no... Can't go back to that.
My brother'd be like "nooooooo don't do eeeeeeeevil" or something...
My brigandin' days are behind me. I am now Dory, the dancin' mirage!
Yeah...

Turn 7 (if Damas previously spoken to)

(Damas enters from the north.)
damas
La la la la la, la la la la la...
...Damn, I can't sing. I dunno why I even try!
Aaaaaanyway, there oughta be some riches in this place.
Time for Master Thief Damas to do his thing! Hwahahah...

Turn 9 (if Echidna is still alive)

soldier
The reinforcements from the south will arrive shortly!
echidna
Good...
soldier
Dame Echidna? Is something wrong?
echidna
No, nothing.
Good work, soldier. You are dismissed.
(The soldier salutes and leaves.)
echidna
Sigh... No, nothing's wrong.
Only that we're losing this fight... And the Isles, with it.
After we came so far... Is this it? Is this the end?
No, I can't think like that... I need to be strong, more than ever.
We will win. We have to...

Turn 20

(Bartre enters from the south with a group of soldiers.)
bartre
All right! We've done it!
We got ahold of Armads. Look at this beauty...
Hahaha! They're gonna get it now!
soldier
Can we join the battle now, Sir Bartre?
bartre
I thought you'd never ask!
Let's go! These fools are going to know the fury of Bartre the Brave!

Conversations

Wagner & Erik

erik
Ho! You there!
Are you not Orun's advisor?
wagner
Who, me? I don't know any Oruns...
erik
Oh, save it, you runt.
How many times did I see you at Thria?
Relax, I'm not going to do anything to you.
Well, nothing other than commend you...
wagner
...Commend me, Lord Erik of Laus?
erik
Heh heh... Indeed.
Those fools, bound down by moldy old tradition...
Look where it got them!
Eliwood, Hector, Orun! Dead, to the last!
Hahahah... Oh, but Bern did not take care of that last one.
wagner
...They did not have time, I'm afraid.
Someone beat them to the punch.
erik
And they did well to do so.
Orun was a stubborn mule, but shrewder than his peers.
He might've stood a chance to inconvenience Bern...
You made that battle a lot easier for us, no doubt.
wagner
(smiles) Ha... I aim to please.
My plans are always flawless!
erik
(smiles) Of course...
Glad the winds of fate brought you to us.
Let us fight together, and at the dawn of all this...
Perhaps we may be able to build up a new Lycia.
With ourselves at its helm, naturally. Hahaha...
wagner
I shall try my level best. Hehehe...
I always did covet the throne of Thria.
When I was a wee lad, I took my father's hand and said:
"When I grow up, I wanna be marquess!"
Then the old dotard slapped me! How dare he...
Who is insolent now, fool?! Who is the insolent one!?
erik
Hahaha... Ahh...
Ah, don't feel too bad.
My own father betrayed the League, then left me to die at Hector and Eliwood's hands in his place.
But I survived. Him, and them.
How the tables turn, eh? Ahah hah hah hah!
wagner
We will surpass our parents and our masters!
We will teach the world that honor is a worthless notion!
erik
Truly intelligent men, us. Hahahahaha!

Perez & Guerrero

perez
I am Perez.
guerrero
Guerreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeero, at your seeeeeeeeeeeervice.
perez
Hmmmm...
guerrero
What's on your miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind?
perez
I just have this strange feeling that you and I have something in common.
guerrero
Like whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
perez
That's the thing. Nothing comes to mind...
guerrero
Maybe it's the haaaaaaaaaair.
Are you baaaaaaaaaaaaaald under the hooooooooooood?
perez
Oh no, my hair reaches way down, beyond my shoulders.
My old friend Oates is the bald one. I just like the look of the hood.
Makes me seem extra... druidish.
guerrero
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... Where are you froooooom?
perez
Bern.
guerrero
I was boooooooorn in the Western Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisles.
So that's not iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeither.
perez
And obviously it's not the speech.
I suppose my mind was just playing tricks on me.
guerrero
Si, la verdad es que no se me ocurre nada.
perez
Una pena. Bueno, suficiente charla. Toca dar el callo.
guerrero
Vamos alla.

Explaining the Joke

Perez and Guerrero are both Spanish names.

Sigune & Henning

henning
Hey... Can I talk to you a minute?
sigune
Well?
henning
See, I used to be a brigand.
Right now I'm fighting for these guys, and it's got me thinking.
I don't love followin' orders, but it's safer than banditry.
Maybe I could try my hand at becoming a sellsword.
sigune
And, since I'm an Ilian mercenary, you want to ask me some questions.
henning
You folks're the finest hired blades in the realm.
And even I've heard of you, Ivory Devil Sigune.
So... Tell me. How hard's it to become a merc?
sigune
Most Ilian mercenaries join the official Ilian guild.
There's a mandatory training period of one to three years.
Then you're on. Never betray your employers, that's the code.
henning
Sounds... surprisingly simple.
sigune
It's the life itself most people cannot handle.
Ilian mercenaries cannot afford friendships, love, family...
Any bond you form is one you may have to break tomorrow.
The contract comes first. Always.
henning
Huh... Usually "you'd sell your mother for a bag of gold" is said figuratively.
sigune
That's how I acquired my nickname, actually.
My mother was a reputed flightleader. Until she died.
henning
What was her mistake?
sigune
Back then, I was not only a mere squire, but a lacking flier, at that.
I kept lagging behind, and our employer was not a patient man.
He ordered that I be left behind in the blizzard.
My mother objected. The argument escalated...
They fought.
henning
...And then he killed her, right?
sigune
No. I killed her.
henning
Yeah, I was afraid you'd say that...
sigune
She broke the code. It was what I had to do.
I went on to fulfill the contract. He gave me my payment, and hers.
I don't know if he did it out of spite, awe or fear.

To answer your question... Her mistake was giving birth to me.

henning
...Wow...
sigune
And from that day on, I was the Ivory Devil.
The embodiment of the Ilian spirit. A weapon to be wielded, for a price.
henning
...That's awful.
sigune
Want my advice? Stick to robbing peasants.
henning
Will do, sheesh... I almost feel lucky to be a cutthroat now.
Yours sounds like a pretty crummy life, if you ask me.
sigune
Some handle it better than others. Why, some even enjoy it.
henning
And you, Ivory Devil?
sigune
...I just handle it.
henning
......

Scollan & Dory

scollan
(smiles) Dory! My guy, what the heck're you doing here?
(frowns) Wait... What's that ridiculous outfit you're wearing!?
dory
It's my performing uniform.
I'm no longer brigand scum like you, Scollan. I've changed my ways.
I now make a living performing where the winds take me...
scollan
I... I can't believe this! You'd betray the brigand's creed, Dory?!
You used to be the most fearsome of bandits...

(Scollan sobs.)

I-I used to look up to you, dammit!
I wanted to one day be as good as you at destroying villages!
B-But look at you now... You're a goodie-two-shoes!
Noooooooooo! I... I won't accept... Sniff...

dory
Oh please, Scollan. Don't cry...
scollan
Boohoo! Boohoohoo... hoo...!
(Scollan heaves with ugly sobs.)
dory
Okay... Check this out! It'll cheer you right up!
Hop! Hop...!

(Dory dances.)

Well? Feelin' better?

scollan
...I-I want a village to burn down...!
dory
Sigh... Okay, listen to me, Scollan.
I'll join your team. We'll find a village together for you.
But then I don't wanna hear any more talk about that, okay?
You've gotta quit this addiction to razing villages, man.
It's gonna make you destroy yourself!
scollan
Sniff... Sniff... Y-You mean it, Dory...?
dory
(smiles) Yeah.
scollan
(smiles) Woo! Pillaging!

Ya better keep your word, Dory! Woohoo...!

(Scollan leaves.)
dory
Tsk tsk... Aww, I can't stay mad at you, Scollan.

Guerrero & Dory

dory
(smiles) Huh? Guerrero? What're ya doing here?
guerrero
(smiles) I joined this aaaaaaaaarmy...
To fight for juuuuuuuuustice... I thiiiiiiiiiiiiink...
dory
Still a big-hearted fella, are ya, Brother?
That's good. Me, I've turned over a new leaf!
That's right, your big bro Dory ain't no longer a criminal.
guerrero
What do you do noooooooooooow for moooooooooooooney?
dory
Heh heh... I perform!
I am already a small celebrity here in Juteaux.
Wanna see why?
guerrero
Shooooooooooooow me your moooooooooooooooves.
dory
Righto! Here we go!
Hngh... Nngh...

(Dory dances.)

...So! How was that?!

guerrero
...You trieeeeeeeeeeeed.
dory
(scowls) Yeah, yeah, I suck, I know.
Don't need to rub it in my face.
guerrero
Seeeeeeeeeeriously.
I'm glad you're tryyyyyyyyyyying, Broooooooooooother.
dory
(smiles) Hahaha... Always so supportive. Glad to have a bro like ya, Guerry!
'Aight, it's decided. Imma join your pack and help ya out with my dances!
guerrero
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks a loooooooooooooooooooooot.

Zephiel & Damas

zephiel
Well, well. Look who it is.
damas
No!
zephiel
Soldiers! Encircle this man! Do not allow him to flee!
damas
C'mon, man, that's not necessary...
zephiel
Shut your trap. I am sick of seeing your ugly face everywhere I go.
It ends today.
(Zephiel advances and Damas cowers.)
damas
Gah!
Wait! Wait! Wait wait wait wait wait!
There HAS to be something I can offer you for my life!
Anything! Anything you want! Anything at all, I'll do it!
zephiel
I've no need of anything a brigand can offer.
damas
You sure? I can fight for you! I'm kinda strong!
And I can run pretty fast. I... believe you've seen that for yourself.
zephiel
"Kinda" strong? "Pretty" fast?
Mongrel! I lead the legions of Bern!
The continent's strongest military force!
We have no need of a bandit, even an above-average one.
damas
Gulp...!
zephiel
...But.

(Zephiel backs off.)

I am feeling merciful today.
Perhaps your face has simply become familiar, after all these meetings.

damas
...! D-Does that mean I...
zephiel
It means you fight for me now.
I will work you to the bone... and throw you away when I no longer need you.
Commit one mistake, no matter how minor, and your head will roll.
I would advise you keep my words close to heart in the days to come.
(Zephiel leaves.)
damas
...Hoo wee... Not outta the woods yet...
(smiles) But my head is on my shoulders! My blood is in my veins!
Hwahahahah! Another win for Damas! Yeah!
Now I just gotta fight so well, he'll be indebted to me.
And then... Easy life, here I come!

Echidna

Combat

echidna
Don't look so smug.
Even if I die here, another will rise up and take my place.
You'll get yours... One way or another.

Combat w/ Arcado

arcado
You... You're that damnable freedom fighter...!
Nothing has gone my way ever since you showed up...
But at least I'll have the chance to watch you bleed.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, as they say!
echidna
Figures Bern would harbor you.
You are every bit as rotten as they are.

Combat w/ Morgan

echidna
Well, look who it is.
The Warden of the Isles.
morgan
Ack!
echidna
Some called me an idiot for giving you a chance.
Maybe they were right after all.
morgan
...You know... I-I did wonder.
Why did you give me a chance?
You handed everyone else to Etruria...
Why make me work with your people?
echidna
The rest were tyrants at best, lunatics at worst.
But I thought if one of you wretches could change, it might be you.
Cowardice and complicity are crimes, to be sure.
Doesn't mean you're outright evil.
Thought I could make a good guy out of you.
morgan
......
Sorry. I haven't changed. I-I'm still a coward.
I have to fight you, or they'll kill me...!
echidna
It's fine. Soon you won't have to fear anything.

Death

echidna
People of the Isles... Never stop fighting!

Bartre

Combat

bartre
I am Bartre the Brave, warrior extraordinaire!
Tremble in fear of my mighty arms! Ha ha ha!

Death

bartre
No! No, I can't... die like this...
If I do... Fir will be... all alone... in the world...!

Ending

zephiel
Echidna of the resistance...
A worthier opponent than I expected to find here, I suppose.

Galle!

galle
My liege?
zephiel
Send a messenger to our troops in Lycia.
Let them know that the plan may proceed to the next stage.
galle
Shall I tell them to attack immediately?
zephiel
No. Our invasion of the Western Isles has not been as swift as I expected.
Etruria will have their eyes on the Isles. A direct attack would be unwise.
We shall take a detour through the Missur Peninsula.
Striking from the desert of Nabata, we can catch Etruria unaware.
galle
Very well, my liege.
Oh, and... One other matter, if I may.
zephiel
Well?

If the chapter was cleared in under 20 turns

galle
There is a cave not far from here.
Resistance forces amass there.
zephiel
More resistance fighters?
Let them be. We have no time to waste cleaning up here.
These Isles were never of any real interest to us anyway.
galle
It's not that, Your Majesty.
A legendary weapon is hidden in the cave.
If they were to obtain it...
zephiel
A legendary weapon...
Lead us to this cave, Galle. Without delay!
galle
At once, King Zephiel!
[Chapter 12x begins.]

Default

galle
Melady is here, Your Majesty. She wishes to speak with you.
zephiel
Usher her in.
(Galle stands aside to let Melady approach.)
melady
Your Majesty.
zephiel
Melady. How goes the search for my sister?
melady
Since she was placed under the protection of Etruria, it made sense to have her hide at the Western Isles, among the resistance.
Thus, I focused my efforts on the Western Isles. I searched far and wide.
However, she was nowhere to be found.
zephiel
Her location remains unknown, then?
melady
Not so, milord.
I tried seeking her in the Etrurian borderlands.
As it turns out, she was hiding out at the Missur Peninsula.
Her and the Pheraen boy, with his remaining men...
zephiel
How fortunate... We were headed in that direction ourselves.
You will come with us, Melady.
melady
Yes, Your Majesty.

Character Descriptions

Dory
A brigand trying to find a new calling.

Damas
The former leader of a Pheraen group of bandits. Now, a lone thief.

Echidna
The leader of the resistance on the Western Isles.

Bartre
A warrior who cares deeply for his daughter.

Resistance
Citizens who have taken up arms to fight for the people.

Deserter
Deserters from the Bernese army, now mercenaries for hire.