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Chapter 20A: Ilia's Fall

To access Chapter 20Ax, the chapter must be completed within 25 turns.

Opening

narrator
After defeating Juno, Zephiel heads for Edessa, located in the northeast of Ilia.
Castle Edessa, home of Zelot, leader of the Ilian mercenary knights, once served as headquarters of the pegasus knight mercenaries as well.
However, with Zelot's absence, Bern saw its chance and attacked the castle, forcing the mercenaries and pegasus knights into submission.
Murdock had made the castle his base, but ever since his departure, Zelot returned and took his home back.
Now, Zephiel intends to quash his resistance, once and for all...
zelot
...Juno has perished.
And with her, the bulk of our pegasi corps...
soldier
I'm sorry, Lord Zelot...
There was nothing we could do. They were so strong...!
zelot
Don't beat yourself up, soldier. It's not your fault.
You have done well to return with this message.
Please, have some rest.
(The soldier leaves.)
zelot
......
I should not let this cloud my judgment.
Juno gave her life for Ilia. I must not lose sight of what matters.
...Alas, I am only human. I will allow myself the luxury of fury.

Come and face us, Bern. I eagerly await your challenge.
I shall be the one to bring you down to your knees...
And slash each of your necks with one swift stroke.

Prison

(A Bernese soldier paces anxiously.)
soldier 1
Oh, in the name of-- Will you stop pacing already?!
soldier 2
What? I can't pace now?
What're you gonna do about it, huh?
soldier 1
I'm gonna beat you over the head, that's what!
soldier 2
I'd like to see you try, you insufferable nincompoop!
(The soldier steps forward.)
soldier 1
Wanna go, then? Wanna go?!
offscreen
What in the world is happening in there?!
Keep it down, Bernese curs!
soldier 1
...Grrrr... You lucked out this time.
soldier 2
Hmph... My thoughts exactly.
(Olthoff mutters to himself.)
olthoff
Urgh... Bunch of imbeciles. What a disgrace.
What will we tell the king? If we survive this at all...

At least I managed to sneak this staff past the guards.
How fortunate they believed it was a walking cane...
If help arrives, I'll be ready to help out!

zephiel
What does it look like, Murdock?
murdock
Apparently, a number of Bernese soldiers are inside.
They were taken captive when Zelot took over Edessa.
zephiel
Hmph... I suppose we should endeavor to rescue them.
Though considering their failure, perhaps it would be best not to...
murdock
...At the very least, I wish to hear their account of what transpired.
zephiel
It is not important. Do as you wish.
What truly matters is that we claim the castle!
And quickly, before the blizzard picks up.

Turn 10 (if Damas has not been recruited)

(Damas approaches from the north with two other thieves.)
damas
Brrrr!
I knew Ilia was cold, but I didn't think it was THIS cold!
And there's just snow everywhere you look!
(grins) But that's okay. A lil' cold won't stop me.
I'm here for the moolah... Hwahahahaha!

Turn 26

(A snowstorm whips up.)
zephiel
The blizzard is picking up... Curses!
The troops won't stand to remain in this frozen wasteland much longer...
We shall head for Bern as soon as we take the castle.

Conversations

Zephiel can advance Damas' recruitment chain if it was not completed in the previous chapters.

Batta & Zinque

zinque
Grrrrr... This cold is unbearable!
I cannot wait to leave this dreary place behind...
batta
Neither can I.
I've traveled all over Elibe, but I'll admit... I always avoided Ilia.
Too many experienced mercs. Too much poverty.
Terrible conditions for a thief.
zinque
Who are you? Don't speak to me, brigand garbage.
batta
The pleasure is mine. Batta, at your service.
Some call me the Beast.
Perhaps you have heard my name? I have traveled a lot in my day.
zinque
Wait, Batta the Beast...? Yes, I've heard of you!
Indeed, you are well-traveled... Even us Islanders had to suffer you!
batta
The Western Isles treated me better than Ilia.
But not by much... Most folks had so little.
It was the likes of, well, you that held all the wealth.
And nobility always spares no expense when it comes to security.
zinque
Even so, you gave us a fair bit of trouble.
It's odd to describe a mere brigand like this, but...
You clearly are a hardened and experienced veteran.
batta
Thank you. That I am.
You don't get far in my line of work without caution.
Hence why I didn't stay too long at the Isles.
The operation you and your fellows had going was too hard a target for my liking.
zinque
(smiles) Not to brag, but we were prepared for every contingency.
This is not the mainland. The Isles are ruled by might.
batta
Quite... And yet it did not help you against the resistance.
zinque
(scowls) Hmph... The resistance had royal backing. I'm sure of it.
That, or a veritable heaping of undeserved luck.
Otherwise, filthy peasants couldn't hope to beat true nobles like us.
batta
Hubris... The downfall of all men.
zinque
What was that?
batta
Nothing at all.
Though our pasts differ greatly, we find ourselves allied now.
Let us fight side by side, shall we?
zinque
I've never met a brigand quite like you, Batta the Beast...
(smiles) Very well. Let us join our strength!

Glass & Henning

henning
Brrrr... I am beyond sick of this country!
All this cold's makin' me miss the volcano...
glass
Hey! What's this I hear?!
henning
Oh, it's you... Great. Just dandy.
glass
I can't believe what I hear!
My old disciple, whining about a bit of cold?!
Well, I'm cold too! But guess what?! I don't care!
I am a peerless swordsman! Gods fear my name!
henning
Yes, yes, I've heard all of that before...
I guess having a fiery spirit is one way to keep warm.
glass
Damn straight! I don't care where or how I have to fight.
This awful temperature? I welcome its challenge!
The worse the conditions, the sweeter the victory!
You don't become peerless with THAT attitude, boy!
henning
Why are you so obsessed with being peerless, anyway?
Please, tell me your tragic childhood story.
glass
Do I need one? My childhood was perfectly fine!
My parents loved me. I never wanted for anything.
Anything but excitement, naturally! I was SO bored!
This... THIS is what makes life truly worth living!
Nothing like a fight to the death to get the blood boiling!
henning
Huh. Never pegged you for the "wealthy thrillseeker" sort.
glass
Not quite wealthy, but we had enough to live comfortably.
Really, we were the very image of average.
But that wasn't enough for me! Not even close!
I must be far more than that... I must be peerless!
henning
...You certainly are peerlessly fond of the sound of your own voice...
glass
What was that, boy?! Speak up!
The wind makes it tough to hear you...
henning
I said, your swordsmanship truly is peerless.
I can only hope to one day come close to matching you.
glass
Hahahahaha! Good luck with that, boy!
I'm not slowing down for the likes of you!
henning
Nor would I expect you to...

Damas & Tick

damas
(grins) Hwahahahaha! Look at this place!
Hoowee! Biggest building in this cesspool of a country!
Oughta have the biggest vault, too... Heheheh...
tick
Hold it!
damas
(scowls) Huh? A guard? Ya wanna square off?!
tick
I am a soldier of Bern.
damas
Oh! Well... Pleased to make yer acquaintance, sir, yada yada.
Now, may I get on with my business?
tick
Listen to me, and listen well.
I have been assigned by the king to keep an eye on you.
You are to surrender any yields of your... business to the army.
(Damas balks.)
damas
What!? Oi! You don't just demand a thief's hard-stolen treasure!
Who does the king think he is?!
tick
...The King of Bern.
You will comply, or you will face the consequences.
damas
Sheesh... Okay, okay! Okay. Hear me out, pal.
How 'bout, I take these here coins of shiny ol' gold, and...
(smiles) Whoops! I dropped 'em! How silly of me.
I sure hope nobody... takes off with these riches.
Eh? Eh?
tick
Bribery, eh? Very well.
Off to the dungeon with you.
damas
(frowns) Yikes! Relax, pal, I was just... kidding.
Totally. Yes. Of course.
I'll do my job and get the boss... "his" treasures, don't worry.
tick
You had better. For your own sake, be on your best behavior.
The king is not a merciful man, and he has taken a particular dislike to you.
Do not give him a reason to want you gone if you value your safety.
damas
...T-That a threat?
tick
A warning. I wish you no ill will, personally.
damas
Well... Thanks, I guess.
Guess I'll have to settle for the satisfaction of a successful heist...
...Though I really would prefer to keep the treasure.
tick
Yes, well, we all wish for things we don't get.
damas
What could a stick-in-the-mud like ya wish for?
A promotion? A raise? A better haircut?
tick
...Peace.
damas
Oh.
tick
......
Well? Is it so strange for a Bernese to wish for peace?
I don't like this any more than anyone else does.
damas
Right... Uh... Yeah.

Wow, this got awkward all of a sudden...
Say, I think I sniff some treasure over that way.
Think I'll go get it! You watch my back, 'kay pal?

tick
...Fair enough.

Pheros & Catalena

pheros
Catalena...
How much longer do you intend to avoid me, old friend?
catalena
Who are you?
I do not know any traitors to the faith.
pheros
Don't be like that, Catalena.
It was not an easy decision, to leave my faith behind.
But I have found a different voice to listen to.
I still thoroughly respect and admire Elimine's creed.
Are my actions truly so reprobable?
catalena
Reprobable? They are revolting, that's what they are.
You turned your back on the Goddess!
In Her all-encompasing faith, she has spared your life...
But rest assured. You will be smitten before long.
pheros
What happened to you, Catalena?
I recall back when we first joined the church.
You were a quiet, shy girl back then.
How did you turn into this...
catalena
This what, Pheros? Go on, finish that thought.
pheros
...this deranged zealot who would threaten her old best friend.
catalena
You call it zealotry. I call it enlightenment.
My life had no meaning before. But now I know the truth.
It was never supposed to have meaning.
Nothing has any meaning but the Goddess.
(smiles) Oh, how I exulted when I had this wondrous epiphany...
I now dedicate my life to the only true purpose.
Worship of the Goddess...
pheros
People like you drove me from the faith.
I had hoped, with my departure, perhaps you'd reconsidered things...
But I see you simply took to telling yourself I am some sort of villain.
catalena
(scowls) Filthy apostate. You dare imply otherwise?
Whose fault is it, then, that you turned your back on the truth?
The Goddess's? You would go so far as to indict Elimine herself!?
pheros
Your mind alone has conjured these accusations. I said no such thing!
catalena
Perhaps, but I can read it on your face, plain as day.
You'd do well to stay out of my sight.
I may not be able to contain myself if I see you again.
(Catalena leaves.)
pheros
Sigh... Well, that went about as well as I expected it to go.

Mieu & Mary

mary
Another day of putting my bow to the service of evil.
When this battle ends, another country will have fallen to us...
Sigh...
mieu
Mary... Are you all right...?
mary
Why are you asking me that?
I should be the one asking you, Mieu.
I can't believe they're still forcing you to fight...
Are you doing okay?
mieu
I... No, I'm not okay. I can't even sleep most nights...
B-But I have to be strong.
I have to get stronger... So one day, I can...
mary
Fight back against them?
mieu
...Uh huh...
mary
So little, and already you dream of being the hero of the tale...
mieu
I need to create a nicer world... A bright future.
Where nice people like Lot and Uncle Wade don't have to...
...D-Don't have to die.
mary
That's a fine dream. Your parents would be proud of you.
mieu
It's... all I can do to make it up...
To Lot, to Uncle Wade... To everyone I've killed.
...I will be the one to kill King Zephiel!
mary
...!
H-How can you say such things, Mieu?
Someone so young should not...
mieu
I-I've been made to kill so many, Mary...
What's one more? Especially one like that... that monster!
mary
...T-This... Oh, Mieu...
mieu
S-Sorry... I... Look, let's just focus, okay?
We can't die here. We have to live...
mary
...Of course. We have to survive.
So that, when the time comes...
We may fight the evil. Side by side.
mieu
Thank you, Mary...
(Mieu leaves.)
mary
...She's such a kind girl... A beacon in the darkness.
Be that I could share that pure-hearted innocence...
I... don't even know why I continue on...
Why fight for a world so rotten, it has turned little Mieu into... this?
Might as well end it all, and leave humanity to its well-deserved fate...

...But no. Not while Mieu yet draws breath...

Olthoff & Zephiel

olthoff
(smiles) Ah, the king! How serendipitous.
zephiel
You are Bernese, are you not?
olthoff
(serious) Correct. I am a chaplain in General Narcian's legion.
zephiel
Which general did you say?
olthoff
Er, General Narcian, sir.
zephiel
Yes, I thought I heard as much.
Did you get captured searching for him?
olthoff
S-Searching for him, sire?
My unit was sent to reinforce the occupation army here.
That was some months back. Things were peaceful, for a time.
Alas, the rebels caught us off-guard...
Most of the troops were driven back and retreated to Bern.
However, I was taken captive. Uh, as you can plainly see.

Please, give me my orders! I am in condition to assist!

zephiel
...Hmph. Here, take this tome.
(Zephiel gives Olthoff a Divine tome.)
olthoff
My thanks, Your Majesty!
Might I ask where General Narcian is at the moment?
zephiel
Make yourself useful, and perhaps you shall avoid his fate.
(Zephiel leaves.)
olthoff
..."His fate"...?
And the way his eye twitched when I said the general's name...
What in Elimine's name has happened while I was here?

Zelot

Combat

zelot
Juno will be avenged! Ilia will be saved!

Combat w/ Sigune

zelot
Sigune... I had wondered where you were.
Under Bern's employ, I see...
Still a stickler for the code, I take it?
sigune
As any worthy Ilian mercenary is, Zelot.
zelot
A worthy Ilian would fight for their homeland.
Juno gave her life for the betterment of her home.
She was a true knight of Ilia.

Tell me, Sigune... Was it you?
Did you fell my wife?

sigune
And if I did, Zelot? What would it matter?
You know how it is with us mercenaries.
Sometimes, we find ourselves fighting each other...
zelot
You will not hate me, then...
When I pierce your heart with my spear.
After all, it is nothing personal, is it?
sigune
No...
And... Truth be told...
Perhaps I deserve it.

Death

zelot
Who will... take care of our child now...? Of Ilia...?

Ending

If the chapter was cleared within 25 turns

zephiel
That was a swift victory...
And yet, I doubt we were fast enough to reach Bern before my sister.
murdock
If I may make a suggestion, Your Majesty...
We could benefit from a small detour.
zephiel
What manner of detour, Murdock?
murdock
Back when I was leading the occupation of Ilia, I came upon an interesting piece of intelligence.
I never had the chance to act on it, but maybe we could do so now.
I believe a legendary weapon is hidden at some ruins nearby.
There is a good chance they have been unable to secure it yet.
As you said, our victory here was swift.
zephiel
Reaching Bern is the utmost priority.

...And yet, being struck from behind with a legendary weapon...
It is too dire a possibility to ignore. Murdock! Lead the way!

murdock
Yes, Your Majesty.
[Chapter 20Ax begins.]

Default

zephiel
That takes care of that. This country is ours again.

And now, to Bern... Murdock! Brunnya!
What do you know of the situation in Bern?

murdock
Princess Guinivere made a proclamation but days ago.
She announced the establishment of a new Kingdom of Bern.
She intends to return our conquered territories to their rightful rulers.
Help with reconstruction, pay any and all sanctions they deem fit...
She will bow her head and beg forgiveness of the world, it seems.
zephiel
That's all well and good, but how will she make it a reality?
brunnya
It would seem many in Bern agree to her vision.
Or, she has somehow earned their favor.
Either way, a majority of the army stationed in Bern answers to her.
Rather catastrophic losses, to be entirely forthcoming...
zephiel
Filthy traitors...
murdock
...It would appear they gather at the Shrine of Seals.
They have the Fire Emblem, my liege. This bodes ill.
zephiel
We have our first objective, then.
We must eliminate the traitors before they take the Binding Blade!
For it to fall into enemy hands... It would be a disaster!
Our dragons would mean nothing in the face of that sword's power!
The world's liberation would slip through my fingers...

(Zephiel vibrates with anger.)

No! I refuse to allow it. We will kill them all if we must!

(Zephiel leaves.)
murdock
......
brunnya
...Such are our orders.
murdock
To see him so easily condemn dozens of Bernese men and women...
brunnya
Do not continue, General. Such words will put you at risk...
murdock
Sigh... I know. I know...
It is our duty. We must follow the king's orders.
As we always have...
brunnya
Indeed...

If the prisoners were freed

soldier 1
General! Thank you! You have saved us!
murdock
Men... I am disappointed in all of you.
To not only lose the castle you were tasked to guard...
But also end up being held captive in its dungeons!
I am ashamed to have men like you under my command!
soldier 1
W-Well... F-Forgive us, General!
The truth is, we weren't under your command, directly...
W-We were reinforcements sent by General Narcian!
murdock
...Of course you were.
soldier 1
We will keep this place safe for sure this time, General!
You can count on us! I swear!
soldier 2
...Oh! We almost forgot!
We were able to hide this when we were imprisoned.
Don't... ask how we did it. Anyway, it's yours!
(The soldier gives Murdock an Angelic Robe.)
murdock
I expect that such a disgrace will not repeat itself.
Next time, the consequences may be less benign.
(Murdock leaves.)
soldier 1
...O-Oh, dear...

Character Descriptions

Olthoff
A Bernese chaplain. Cautious.

Zelot
The lord of Edessa. Leads the Ilian mercenary knights.

Ilia
Knights of Ilia.

Thief
Thieves hunting for treasure to pilfer.

Bern
Soldiers from the eastern kingdom of Bern.