Chapter 1: Footsteps of Fate
The apprentice tactician Lian and the young swordfighter Lyn. A strange pair on an even stranger journey. To prepare for the long road ahead, they go to Bulgar, the commercial center of Sacae. Unbeknownst to Lyn, she will discover something that will alter her life forever.
Location: Bulgar, Sacae
Date: 4/3
Lian and Lyn arrived in Bulgar without any problems. While Lyn goes looking for supplies, Lian hunts down an old friend. She knew how to summon Gabe anywhere, walk into any local pub, and tell the barkeep you have need of a plumber, Gabe would meet you anywhere from an hour to a week later, but he would meet up with you. After taking care of that business, Lian looked for Lyn, only to find her calling her from Bulgar's main square. "This is Bulgar," Lyn said "the biggest city in all of Sacae." "Yeah Lyn, world maps list it as the capital city of Sacae, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Sacae is un unified, and it's various clans have control of different regions of the land. Bulgar is special, because it's the only agreed neutral zone amongst the clans. It's effectively Sacae's cultural center and only tourist local because of this." Lian explained while Lyn nodded in agreement.
"Oh my heart! What a dazzling vision of loveliness!" someone exclaimed. Lian and Lyn turned to face this mysterious man. "Wait, o fair and beauteous ones! Would you not favor me with your names, or better yet, your company?" the green clad knight said. Lyn swiftly replied" Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?" "Ha! I thought you would never ask!" said the knight" I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home of men of passion and fire!" "Shouldn't that be 'home to callow oafs with loose tongues'?" Lyn said in a scalding tone while Lian laughed at the poor knight. The knight, tho obviously hurt by Lyn's claim, simply replied "Oooooh… You're even lovelier when you're cruel."
"Let's go, Lian." Lyn said clearly annoyed" I've nothing more to say." The knight tried but failed to get Lyn and Lian to stay behind while a new knight entered the scene. "Sain! Hold your tongue!" the red clad knight shouted. "Ah, Kent! My boon companion!" Sain replied" why so severe an expression?" Kent scolded Sain, claiming "If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!" Sain rebuts Kent's claim, stating "I know that, but how could I remain silent in the presence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!" What do you know of courtesy!? Kent shouted.
Meaning, in the Bulgar plaza, a man approaches Lian and Lyn. "Lian, I hear you have need of a plumber." the man states. Lian turns around quickly and exclaims" Gabe! It's good to see you again." "Good to see you too, Lian. Who's the girl?" Gabe asks. Lian answers "This is Lyn. She saved my life when we were separated on the Sacae plains." Lyn buts in asking" Excuse me Lian, do you know this man?" Lian replies" Yes Lyn, this is my partner in crime, so to speak, Gabe Logan, but everyone calls him Gabe." "Hi Gabe, I am Lyn of the Lorca tribe. Nice to meet you." Lyn introduces herself. "The Lorca" Gabe notes" Lian, how did come into contact with the remnant of a dead tribe?" "GABE! Can't you at least TRY to be sensitive?" Lian scolds. "No" Gabe simply states" Being blunt and rude gets me information I need faster, so that's what I'll do" "Well then, Gabe, like it or not, this girl comes with us." Lian asserts. "Fine" Gabe states" but you take care of her, Lian. I've got work to do." "THIS is the Gabe you told me about before we got here? How could you possibly stand him?" Lyn asks. "You'll see" Lian simply states.
As Lyn and her two new companions set out to leave Bulgar, they noted the knights from earlier blocking the road. "Excuse me! You're blocking the road." Lyn tells the Caelin knights" If you would be so kind as to move your horses…" "Of course, my apologies" Kent replies. "Thank you" Lyn states" You, at least, seem honorable." "Hm? Pardon me, but…" Kent claims" I feel we've met before." " I beg your pardon?" Lyn states. Sain exclaims "Hey! No fair, Kent! I saw her first!" in response to Kent's claim, which causes Lyn's group to storm off in rage.
Location: Outside Bulgar, Sacae
Date: 4/3
"Run! We're being pursued!
"Could it be those knights from town?" Lyn and Lian both ask. "Not a chance" Gabe notes" These men want us dead."
The assassins approached Lyn, with their leader saying" Heh heh hehhh… Aren't you the pretty one! Your name is Lyndis, is it not?" Lyn, with visible shock, replies" What did you call me? Who are you?" Such a waste." The man says" An absolute waste. The things I'll do for gold… Ah, well. Time to die darlin'! C'mon out, boys!" 4 assassins surround Lyn's party and attack the group. Lyn quickly realizes there are more than she can handle, but thankfully, Kent and Sain come to the rescue.
A deal is hastily made between the knights and Lyn, and the knights agree to fight alongside Lyn and Gabe under the command of Lian.
Lyn attacks the first bandit, dodges his counterattack, and attacks him again. The brigand, clearly angry moves to strike again, but Kent quickly comes in and fells the bandit in question. Sain and Gabe regroup with the two while Lian deals with a brigand in Bulgar's entrance. Lyn moves to north with Gabe to regroup with Lian, while Kent and Sain engage an assassin to the south. Despite Kent taking a few wounds, the bandit is dispatched, but a 5th bandit arrives as reinforcements.
Lyn is attacked by an assassin, but with 3 swift sword swipes, the foe falls. Kent and Sain are attacked by another foe, but they take him down thru combining their efforts. Lyn moves to engage the leader of the assassins, but the leader attacks first.
"So girl, you challenge me yourself" the leader says. Lyn grunts and prepares to fight. The bandit strikes and lands a clean hit. Lyn retaliates with 2 sword strikes, and quickly drinks a vulnerary to heal her wounds. The bandit attacks, and Lyn dodges and counters, killing the man.
"That's the last of them!" Lyn exclaims" Fantastic work, Lian!" Lyn heads over to the Lycian knights prepared to question them. "We have ventured from Caelin, in Lycia, in search of someone." Kent explains. "Lycia" Lyn notes" That's the country beyond the mountains in the southwest, isn't it?" "Correct." Kent notes" We've come as messengers to the lady Madelyn, who eloped with a nomad some 19 years ago." "Madelyn?" Lyn asked, showing signs of realization. "Our lord the marquess of Caelin's only daughter." Kent explains" He was heartbroken his own daughter would abandon him so. Eventually, the marquess simply declared that he had no daughter."
Sain continued" And then this year, we received a letter from Lady Madelyn. It said that she, her husband, and their daughter were living happily on the Sacae plains. The marquess was ecstatic to learn he had a granddaughter of 18 years. I remember the smile on his face when he announced that he'd suddenly become a grandfather. The granddaughter's name is Lyndis. This was also the name of the marquess's wife, who passed away at an early age." "Lyndis?" Lyn says, realizing. "That she should bear this name thawed the marquess's heart." Sain reveals" Now, his only wish is to meet his daughter's family at least once. This is why we're here. We didn't know that Lady Madelyn died a few days after sending her letter… We only learned of this shortly after we arrived in Bulgar."
Kent added" But we also learned all was not lost. Her daughter yet lives. We heard that she was living alone on the plains… I… I knew it immediately, You are the lady Lyndis." "Why would you think that" Lyn asks. "Your resemblance to your departed mother is remarkable." Kent notes. Lyn asks if Kent knew Lyn's mother, but Kent did not. He had just seen portraits thruout Castle Caelin
"To the rest of my tribe, I was always Lyn." Lyn states" But when I was with my parents…. When it was just the three of us, I was Lyndis. It's all so strange. I was all alone in the world, and now I have a grandfather. Lyndis… I never thought I would hear that name again. Wait! That bandit! He called me Lyndis too!" Lyn reveals.
Sain notes the possibility that he was a henchman of Lord Lundgren. Lyn's granduncle who without Lyn is next in line to the throne. Because of this, he had hired these assassins to assassinate Lyn so he could protect his future title. Lyn joins with the Caelin knights to journey to Caelin to meet her grandfather.
Later that evening
Location: Eastern Sacae
Date: 4/3
"Gabe, why won't you accompany us?" Lian asks her partner. "Because we have no place in this conflict, Lian" Gabe explains" This is a blood feud, and as members of the Black Fang, we only kill corrupt nobles, not ambitious ones. I won't stop you from traveling with her, but I'm not getting involved." "I understand Gabe" Lian replies" If things get desperate, can I count on you to aid me?" "Of course, Lian, that's what friends are for, but one thing, whatever you do, DO NOT let this band see that brand on your hand." Gabe states. "I know, Gabe" Lian replies" None must know that I am a fellblood. Don't let anyone know about your Vala blood either, Gabe" "Thanks for the reminder, Lian, goodbye" Gabe says, then leaves.
AN: HOLY CRAP, this was so much longer than I thought it would be.
In any case, this chapter was mostly exposition with a little action. Unfortunately, the next chapter will be too, but the information is mostly new, even to those who played FE7, I'll save that reveal for tomorrow.
