!DOCTYPE html>

Chapter 19A: Bitter Cold

Opening

narrator
After defeating the Mountain Hermit and making it through the woodlands, Zephiel and company face the blizzards common of Ilia's winters.
Ilia's harsh weather has in the past served as a natural defense against invaders.
In this blizzard, Juno, captain of a pegasus knight squad and wife to Zelot, makes preparations to defend against the Bernese Army...
zelot
...Juno, I am still not certain about this.
juno
Honey, you should be on your way already.
Bern cannot find you here, and they will arrive shortly.
Edessa will need her lord to protect her.
Our child will need her father... Our people, their savior.
And it's not like I'm a helpless damsel, Zelot.
I am a seasoned pegasus knight. I've faced worse odds than this.
You're just as likely to not have to lift a finger yourself!
zelot
That is a lie, Juno, and you know it. You face impossible odds.
We've not had enough time to prepare...
Please, just come with me to Edessa. There, we can--
juno
If we desert the troops, they will desert us in kind.
Unless you want us to pull all the soldiers out of Karlae?
Bern will just walk through if we do that.
They'd be upon Edessa in mere days.
You said it yourself, Zelot. We need time.
zelot
......
I know I am speaking like a snot-nosed rookie, but...
Juno, it feels like we've barely had time to be together...
And now Bern is about to tear us apart forever...!
juno
Zelot...
We have more important responsibilities.
We have to try our hardest for Ilia.
Because nobody else will... This is our duty.

Zelot... Please. Return to Edessa.

zelot
...Sigh... Very well.
I am counting on you, Flightleader. Win the day and return safely!
juno
By your command, my lord... Haha...
(Zelot leaves.)
juno
...He's finally gone...
Now I can stop holding back the tears...
zephiel
What is the word from our scouts?
murdock
None, my liege. They did not return.
My opinion is that they were ambushed in the blizzard.
We face a foe accustomed to these hellish conditions.
Treading lightly will be imperative to survive.
zephiel
Curse this blizzard...
But the mighty Bernese Army will not be stopped by some snow!
murdock
If the maps are correct, there is a fort on the other side of this mountain range.
We can seek refuge there... Provided we are able to take it from the enemy.
zephiel
We shan't be stopped here.
We charge right on through, repelling any attacks on the way!
Take this fort!
(Murdock salutes.)

Turn 13 (if Juno is still alive)

soldier
Captain!
Other pegasus knight squads are on their way to assist us!
juno
Really? They will help immensely.
I almost feel bad for the enemy...
They'll be in a panic when they're suddenly attacked from all directions.
They won't see them coming in this snowstorm...
Observe nature's wrath, invaders from Bern.

Conversations

Sigune & Martel

sigune
Bumbling about blindly in the blizzard... No good.
We might as well send the enemy a formal petition to be ambushed.
Then again, not all Ilians fight as I do.
Hence why we aren't all known as Ivory Devils...
martel
I agree with you. This expedition makes little strategic sense.
I kept saying we should turn west at the fork, but...
sigune
Well, we're here now. Nothing to be done about it.
All we can do is stick anyone who pounces from the darkness.

...You know, Martel, I've always been curious.

martel
What about? My brilliant mind?
sigune
You, in general.
When you hired me, I could hardly believe your words.
martel
What was so peculiar about my terms and conditions?
I hired you on the Army of Bern's behalf.
Was it the salary that was unclear?
Perhaps you were hoping for a better medical insurance deal?
I trust you have been treated to your satisfaction since!
sigune
Come now. I am an Ilian mercenary.
You name a price and a target. That's it.
No, it's you yourself that fascinates me.
martel
Why?
sigune
You seem a priest, Martel. Robes and all.
Yet you are a military man, through and through.
So why the robes?
martel
The habit does not make the monk, Sigune.
I'm too brilliant to be a priest!
I found these in the bin and I happened to like them!
What's so wrong about that?
sigune
That's it? Seriously?
But, the staff... I thought only priests carried those.
martel
Do Ilian armies not have battle medics?
You need a medic! Without a medic, you lose every battle!
sigune
Huh... Well, then.
martel
Now, if that's all, I think it is about time we moved.
May the gods above bless us with victory on this day.
sigune
...You'll agree that was quite priestly.
martel
What, I can't be religious now?
sigune
That's not what I...
Sigh... Oh, never mind. I forget myself.
Let's go back to the basics. Name your target.

Nord & Slater

nord
(smiling) Heh heh heh...
This darkness feels homely to me.
As does this senseless destruction...
Yes. I am happy serving in this army. Heh heh heh...
(Slater stumbles in from out of the blizzard.)
nord
Ahh... Hail.
(Slater startles.)
slater
Gah!

What the-- Where'd you come from?
Blast this darkness... Are you an enemy?!

nord
Not necessarily.
slater
...L-Listen here, I am a lieutenant of Bern.
If I go missing, there will be no forgiveness for you!
nord
Heh heh... So quick to bend. But rest easy.
I, too, am a member of Bern's army.
You and I... We are allies.
The darkness I command is on your side.
slater
You command... Wait, is this darkness your doing?!
nord
Oh, no. This is natural darkness... The best darkness, in my opinion.
I merely utilize my darkness to steal the lives of others.
Some would call it unimaginative, but I've always been a simple man.
Heh heh heh...
slater
Gulp...!
nord
...Tell me, are you a noble?
slater
Eh? That's an odd question.
No, the only scepter my parents carried was used to dig furrows.
nord
I see... So your blood does not run blue.
Though, perhaps you are a descendant of royalty.
Sometimes that happens. Often, even.
The royalty of yore, today members of the peasant mob.
slater
W-What are you getting at?
nord
We cannot be certain what color your blood is.
(Nord advances menacingly.)
nord
Do you not wish to... find out?
slater
G-Gyaaaaaaaaaaah!!
(Slater runs.)
nord
Hah hah hah hah! Gutless fool!

That was an enjoyable diversion.
But the moment has passed. Back to work... Heh heh heh.

(Nord leaves. Slater slinks back into frame.)
slater
Phew... I don't think he's chasing me... W-What a creepshow!
And here I thought that priest I shared a cell with was creepy...
...Though, thinking about it, I think that guy may've still been creepier...

Ruben & Grigas

grigas
You!
ruben
Ah, doggone it. You're still in the army, old man?
Wait, don't answer that. Of course you are.
Never met a guy so fiercely in love with his job in my life.
grigas
And I have never met a whelp as ungrateful as you!
Have you any idea the strings I had to pull to get you your position in the army?
It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and what do you do with it!?
You desert, first chance you get! Filthy traitor...!
ruben
First of all, it wasn't the "first chance" I got.
I served for over ten years, old man.
I realized if I stayed, I'd just end up dying another nameless goon.
grigas
Mongrel! One doesn't become a soldier for fortune and glory!
One becomes a soldier to protect their homeland, its people and its culture!
ruben
I'd thought you don't need to invade other countries to protect yours.
But I guess I'm just an idiot, aren't I.
grigas
You think you're so smart, huh. You think you're better than everyone else.
But aren't you a nameless goon now?
Worse than that! You're a goon for hire! Who will mourn you when you fall!?
Without a place to call home or anyone to call comrade!
ruben
And whose fault is that?
It's not like I ever had a family. Not a real one, anyway.
My dad never did care much for me... Did you, Dad?
grigas
...Of course I cared. Why do you think I helped you into the army?
Why do you think I risked my own standing covering for you?
You would have been discharged long before you thought of deserting.
But I protected you, put up with you, because you were... are, my son.
I had hoped you'd change. Mature. But you had other ideas, did you.
ruben
Damn right I did. Now I'm free as a feather.
I fly where I please, fight for my own sake and live the good life.
Meanwhile, you lug a giant piece of wood and metal around.
(smirks) Heh... It's pretty poetic. Shackled by your ballista and your pride.
grigas
I have no more to say to you. Leave my sight, whelp.
ruben
(frowns) Right... I pity you, Dad. I really do.
One day you'll realize you wasted your life, and for what?
Some madman going on a rampage throughout the continent.
(Ruben leaves.)
grigas
...And yet you seem giddy to do the madman's bidding, for a price.
Hmph.

Pheros & Narcian

narcian
Aaaargh! Balderdash and piffle!
It's been... however many battles already since I returned, and...

(Narcian fumes.)

I've yet to regain my rightful status as Wyvern General!
It's as if the king doesn't even notice my contributions!

(Narcian tantrums.)

How is this FAIR!?

pheros
Lower your voice.
You will draw unwanted attention upon yourself.
And, by extension, the rest of us.
(Narcian steps towards her.)
narcian
(smiles) Oho... Aren't you beautiful.
I believe I shall grant you the pleasure of my company...
Hm hm hm...
pheros
You would do well to rein yourself in.
Your reputation isn't exactly stellar.
To make it worse would be unwise.
narcian
(scowls) My reputation!? What do I care about the opinion of my inferiors?
I am the heir to Bern's oldest dynasty!
Older even than the king's lineage!
We were among Bern's founders!
pheros
Quite the... putative pedigree.
narcian
Ahh, in awe, are you now?
pheros
...Something like that.
Well, your family's deeds must be the stuff of legend.
narcian
Deeds? I am the highest noble in the realm.
That's all there is to it, and all there SHOULD be to it!
I don't have to prove anything.
pheros
Pah... And what have you to show for your precious lineage?
(Narcian fumes.)
narcian
How dare you!
pheros
Answer the question.
(Narcian flinches back.)
narcian
W-Why, everything!
I am strong, I am wise, I am lovely--
pheros
Cease spewing drivel. That is all meaningless.
The only thing impressive about you...
is how you've managed to fall from Wyvern General to lowly corporal.
(Narcian quivers with rage.)
narcian
If you think you can insult me so and get away with it,
you are sorely mistaken. I will not endure such offense!
pheros
I welcome you to do something about it.
Well? Will you go to your lord father and cry?
(Narcian shrinks back.)
narcian
...I am the last of my name.
It falls to me to defend our honor and our legacy!
pheros
No siblings or anything? How I pity your forebears...
Such a storied family, and it comes to an end here.
With so pathetic a child.
narcian
Eh?! You wench, I am a young man!
I have plenty of time to sire an heir or three!

(Narcian shakes his fist.)

Just watch! You'll wish YOU had begged to be my bride!

(Narcian storms off.)
pheros
...And in the end, he flees, having done naught but whine.
Sigh... Fool. Blue blood is worthless. True strength begets true devotion.
You could stand to learn that from your liege.

Mary & Lim

mary
Gasp...!
lim
......
mary
W-Who are you...?
lim
I am Lim.
mary
...Mary.
Pardon me if I am mistaken, but... you...
lim
I am not human.
How did you know?
mary
Not human...?
...No, I was going to ask if you are... alone.
You have the same emptiness in your eyes I see...
Every time I dare look into a mirror.
lim
......
You are correct. Your eyes are empty.
Yet you are human. You are not like me.
How can you be empty?
mary
It's not that strange a tale.
In fact, I wager many have had it worse than me...
I'm alive, at least. I'm healthy...
I may have lost everyone and everything, but...
I-I'm supposed to be happy to be alive, aren't I?
lim
I do not know. I am not human.
I do not know anything about the human heart.
mary
Something truly awful must have happened to make you this way.
lim
You are human. I am not.
mary
I... think I understand.
lim
I doubt it.
mary
We have a girl with us that can create dragons out of thin air.
A construct that looks like a human... It's not unimaginable to me anymore.
lim
......
You are correct. I am a construct.
But she did not create me. My creator died long ago.
Alongside almost all that were like me.
mary
You have also lost everyone...
And here I am, feeling sorry for myself.
...Let's just... Let's stick together, shall we?
We are so similar. Perhaps we could become friends.
Who knows. Maybe making a new friend will help...
lim
Friend...
I do not know if I can provide what you seek.
But...
mary
Yes?
lim
I shall try.

Marla & Zephiel

(Zephiel starts.)
zephiel
Hmph!
You have done well to sneak up on me...
But your only reward shall be death!
marla
(smiling) ......
zephiel
Well? No last words?
Or do you believe I will be taken aback by your appearance?
I care not what manner of hellish fiend you are.
If you stand in my way, I shall cast you aside!
marla
Such a naughty child, lashing out at the world so!
You've earned quite the punishment...
But I shan't be the one to deliver it to you.
You have not a soul. I can see it in your eyes.
All I seek are souls to reap. For His sake...
zephiel
"His" sake? For whose sake?
marla
(ToggleSmile) Oh, you would not understand... He whispers to me in the night.
He has made me... powerful...
I need more... power... More... More...!

(Marla quivers.)

More souls! More souls to Him! He must have them...!
Then he will shower me with power! Ah, delicious, wonderful power!

zephiel
...Fight for me.
I wage war on mankind at large. Plentiful souls for the harvest.
Reap the souls of my foes, and obtain what you desire.
marla
Yes... That sounds like a fun time. Hee hee...
Come along, children! It's bedtime for all of you.
Let me sing you a lullaby... and rock you to sleep!
(Marla leaves.)
zephiel
......
Sure. Why not. She's not the strangest one we've picked up.
What does it matter? As long as the world is liberated...

Juno

Combat

juno
So...you've made it through the blizzard.

Congratulations.
Now let's see if you can defeat me.

Combat w/ Sigune

juno
Sigune... Why?
You can come with us. You can help to save Ilia!
sigune
You've forgotten the code, have you, Juno?
juno
Ilian mercenaries are never to betray their employers...
But we aim to change the way things work in Ilia!
We want to turn this into a better place to live.
sigune
And I do not believe you could succeed.
Your dream is nothing but a flight of fancy.
I will keep my reputation, thank you very much.

Speaking of which, I think it's time we fought.
Defend yourself!

Death

juno
Has spring... come to Ilia yet...?

Locations

House 1

young woman
You go up against Flightleader Juno.
I'd wish you luck, but I'd be lying.
The Ilian pegasus knights can fly through the blizzard.
You'll be blinded by the white...
and then they will suddenly appear out of the swirling snow.
But when that happens it's too late... You're already dead...

House 2

woman
Pegasus knights and ballistae... Captain Juno is after you.
She's hiding in the blizzard, waiting to strike...
And then we will rejoice.

House 3

man
You know about the ballista to the east, right?
We're out of its range here, and so is the shop over there...
Hey, I hear they've got a killer discount going right now.
You should pay them a visit. Go ahead. Don't be shy.

House 4

young woman
Bern's headquarters in Ilia?
Um, I think it was Edarza... Edetta... Edessa! That's it.
It's to the northeast.
It's back in the hands of its rightful lord now, though.
What was his name... Zelots... Jerrot... Zelot! That's it.

West Village

woman
You would come to such an isolated place as this...?
The prophecies were correct...
When the world is covered in darkness...
A single blade of wind will slice through the darkness,
allowing the light to shine again.

Hya!

(She throws a book at the visitor, making them flinch.)
visitor
Ow! What was that for?!
Do you throw books at everyone that visits you, you old crone?!
woman
You aren't visiting, you're invading!
And there's more where that came from!
Leave at once!
visitor
Fine, but I'm taking the book!
(The visitor receives an Aircalibur tome.)

East Village

man
I've pondered a lot about whether I should give in to Bern...
But I've made up my mind. I'll not hold strong.
Take this shield. It brings out your inner fortitude.
...Please let peace remain in this land.
(The visitor receives a Dragonshield.)

Ending

If Juno survived

juno
No... They took the castle?
...I must escape before--
soldier
Up there! Archers! Fire at will!
(Juno is struck by an arrow.)
juno
Aaargh!
(Juno is peppered by arrows until she falls dead.)
murdock
We are victorious, my liege.
Next up is Edessa, where the Ilian troops' leader awaits.
Zelot... some say they wish he would become Ilia's first king.
zephiel
Is that so?
I'm afraid he will not live to ascend any thrones.
Edessa will be under our control.
Once it is, we can proceed to Bern...
murdock
It is much too late to beat the princess there, I'm afraid.
I do wonder how many of the troops in Bern will join her side...
zephiel
Whoever does, dies.
As will she. I have granted her enough chances.
If she will insist on defying me... She will be disposed of.
It is long past time I rid myself of the weakness that is family.
murdock
...I...
zephiel
Do you have any objections, Murdock?
murdock
...Of course not.
I am your loyal servant, my king. Now and always.
zephiel
I hope so, Murdock. I hope so.
murdock
......

Character Descriptions

Marla
A sorceress who sacrificed her humanity for power.

Juno
A retired squad leader of the Ilian pegasus knights. Zelot's wife.

Ilia
Knights of Ilia.

Brigand
Brigands who roam the mountains.