"Alright you dastards," Garrick raised his short axe. With a few enthusiastic shouts and swings of his weapon he rallied the bandits into something that loosely resembled a formation. "Grab all the weapons and vulneraries. If you see anything shiny take it if you can!"
The Soothsires attacked the town as a single wave of muscle and desperation. Isaac's plan had worked marvelously. It was actually kind of amusing how Garrick managed to convince the villagers that all the bandits were weapons-smiths. Who sold their wares while dressed in full armor? Weapons and armor that often times still had dried and not so dried blood all over them.
Honestly the cover-story couldn't have been more obviously fake if Garrick had said that they were giving a free axe to every man in the village. Maybe that was why it even managed to fool anyone, the villagers thought the possibility was too stupid for anyone to consider actually doing it so they ignored that it could possibly happen.
Either way it resulted with the same chaos that happened during every raid, people screaming and people dying. After the events that had happened just a few days ago, Luso was repulsed more then he usually was from the brutality he was now all too used to. When the other bandits jostled about, pushing him towards the other villagers to hunt down and kill, Luso just stepped to the side; a luxury he once was unable to do. It was funny how even a fifty percent casualty rate could have its upsides.
"Hey Matthew you don't seem very enthusiastic today!" Garrick said. "Is it because Isaac's sleeping back at base camp? Not feeling so motivated now that he isn't here?"
"Whatever you say Garrick," Luso said, his eyes distant and unfocused. "I... I don't know."
"You need to work twice as hard you know to make up for it. You were the one he insisted that he get some rest." Garrick hissed. "He'll be no good when he's collapsing from magic burnout you said. If you aren't going to cut open these shopkeepers and steal supplies, then go down by the inn. The armory and barracks is just around the corner and the few members of the local militia who stuck around could sneak through the alley, grab weapons and try to pose a bit of resistance."
Garrick laughed heartily, his mad smile exposing his yellow teeth. "If you don't want to smash and grab, then act as bait so the more fired up members of the band aren't dragged down by your damn apathy. I've seen Williams and Johnson take breathers from the pillaging because they saw you standing around and doing nothing!"
Luso turned aside and nodded. He quickly jogged down the burning streets; a sight he was all too familiar too by now. What he was not familiar with was the other bandits that happened to be fleeing with whatever had came through that side alleyway. Two or three of them were running like cowards but the rest were grabbing their friends and spreading out.
Luso drew his sword and checked its balance with a twirl. "Well it looks like this is going to be a huge mess." He said as he waited at the other end.
"It appears that Luso's information panned out." Robin said. "I can see three fires and two corpses with axes still in them from this vantage point alone so there are definitely bandits in the area. My vision is blocked by two houses so I could be wrong, but judging by the lack of arrows on the dead villagers I'd say that we have no enemy archers."
"How many villagers are still out there to rescue?" Chrom said.
"Six." Robin said. "At least from what I can see, there could be more hidden within the buildings. Keep an eye out."
"That's if they kept their wits about them of course." Frederick noted.
"If any bandits went into the buildings they could come rejoin the fight. Keep an eye out anyways." Robin ordered. "And Frederick, if you fight any sword wielders I suggest you pick up their weapons. The majority of our enemies are using axes, so if you wield a sword, you will gain the weapon triangle advantage. And if they have an axe maybe take that too, so we'll be ready when a lance wielder comes along. And any gold so we can buy weapons if we want to. Actually take everything but the smallclothes. We can always sort through it later. Wait now that I think about it-"
Changing the topic from Robin's suggestion of wanton looting, Frederick said. "Milord Chrom, I know that you have no taste in killing-"
"Come to think of it, maybe that a few of these bandits saw us." Robin flipped through his spell book. "After I fried one with a thunder spell, his buddy went running. So don't expect the element of surprise here."
"-but we face experienced bandits, who will show no quarter."
Robin flipped through another few pages of his thunder tome. His eyes widened and he dove to the floor as an axe flew just where his head had been just a few seconds ago.
"This case Milord, is kill or be killed," Frederick finished; not seeming to notice the hand axe that was embedded in his shoulder plate. "They will show no mercy. So Milord, may I suggest that I offer you armor for your other shoulder-"
"Just out of curiosity," Robin muttered as he threw another bolt of lightning out the inn's window. "Why are all of you standing around upstairs? Hurry up will you? There are five villagers that need to be saved."
Chrom snapped out of his stupor. "Wait one second; I thought you said there were six?"
"I know. I meant what I said." Robin replied. "Did you think these bandits were going to wait around till we finished talking?"
"Damn it!" Chrom said. "There's no time to lose. Come on Robin, let's go save those five villagers!"
"Four now," Robin said. "Er... ah... actually, will four and a half do?"
"A half?" Lissa asked.
Robin scratched his head. "Now that I think about it, you can survive without the bottom half of your body right? So should I say four and three fourths? Four and two thirds?" As the tactician ran a few mental calculations to gauge the worth of each individual part of the body, a gargled scream echoed through the town.
"Wait. Never mind." Robin said. "Not an issue anymore."
"Oh for Naga's sake, get going already!" Chrom said. "Frederick, follow me!"
"Chrom for our strategy you want me to prioritize the civilians, right?" Robin gave Chrom a momentary pause out of courtesy before he moved onto explaining his plan. "Then listen up! If these bandits see Shepherds they'll focus on us more than anyone else. As such, we'll be splitting up to try to distract them. Frederick, as you have the heaviest armor and are the most mobile of all of us, move out towards the church and draw those bandits as far away as possible. Chrom, move around the side of that armory and get those two villagers and to move through that side alleyway. You see where I'm pointing right? Take them to the gap in the wall and tell them to run down the West road as quickly as possible. I'll provide cover with my magic and monitor the situation. Regroup at the village market on my signal. Lissa, if you get lost, its right by the gates."
"What about me? You didn't tell me anything!" Lissa said.
"Wait in the inn until someone takes an axe to the... uh, squishy bleedy bits. You can go on the front lines when you can swing one too. Maybe the supporting line if you pick up a tome." Robin said. "Why are we standing around again?"
Without a second's worth of hesitation but with a long sigh, Chrom drew his sword and ran around the side of the armory. The burning homes and the blood in the streets only gave him the motivation to move even faster. They had wasted enough time already, and he had already failed to save one or two of the villagers.
Just as Robin had mentioned there were a few civilians that were surrounded by a pair of bandits. Apparently the thugs were beating them for their own amusement, taking a sadistic pleasure in kicking them while they were down.
"Back away from those people or die where you stand!" Chrom shouted.
When the bandits caught sight of Chrom's blue hair, they sneered and raised their axes. When they saw the mark of the Exalt, one of them raised an eyebrow. When that lone observant bandit who realized that their assailant also happened to be holding the Falchion put two and two together, he said "Grima, that's Chrom!"
"Really?" The second one said. "Ho, damn, Isaac's going to be dis-ah-pointed he skipped this raid. We need to skedaddle and tell Garrick."
"I know, right?" The first said. "Let's stop talking 'bout skedaddling and just do it already."
And with that mildly confusing exchange, the two bandits scampered away leaving Chrom behind to wonder what exactly was going on.
The two people who the bandits had been terrorizing slowly stood up, staring at Chrom with fearful eyes. They trembled and shivered as they carefully wrapped their ripped clothing around themselves.
"It's going to be alright," Chrom said. "Nothing is going to hurt you. Just follow me."
And they did follow him, around the side alleyway towards what appeared to be an opening in the wall. The alleyway was no large crevice; in fact it was hidden by a few bushes, and was barely large enough for a man to squeeze through. It provided an opportunity for the villagers to flee.
The only issue was what stood between them and the crevice. Chrom could hear footsteps, one light tap after another getting closer and closer.
Chrom narrowed his eyes and motioned for the villagers to move back. "Stay behind me." He said, as he slowly peered around the corner to see who or what would stand in his way.
There was a single bandit with his sword drawn.
"Luso," Chrom said. "Is that you? I don't understand."
"Chrom," Luso replied. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon. But then again, I did tell you that Southtown would be attacked soon. I suppose soldiers like you would want to reinforce the area instead of fleeing."
"The real question is what are you doing here?" Chrom asked. "Why aren't you fighting these bandits? Why are you just standing around? Help me take these people through,"
"I can't do that Chrom." Luso said. "I was ordered not to let anyone pass. They could arm themselves and get in the way."
Chrom's eyes widened and he reached down and gripped the hilt of the Falchion. "So that's why you knew this raid was happening," Chrom growled. "Of course that was the reason."
"Who other than a bandit would know where a bandit would attack?" Luso raised his own blade in response. "You ought to have expected this from the start."
"Why?" Chrom said. "You risked your life to save my sister. You fought alongside me to ensure that no Ylissean would be killed by the Risen, why would you turn and do this?"
Luso raised his sword and closed his eyes. "You seem to think I wanted to do this."
"I offered you a way out." Chrom said. "If you really hated being a bandit you could have taken my offer and become a Shepherd."
"As if I had a choice," Luso replied.
"There is always a choice." Chrom said.
"I am a bandit Chrom!" Luso said. "Even if I wanted to join you, how long would it have been till you found about what I was? What would have happened to me then? Frederick would have skewered me on the end of his lance wouldn't he?"
"But-"
"Do I even deserve that second chance to begin with?" Luso closed his eyes. " Am I the kind of person who ought to be given the title of one of the defenders of the realm?"
Chrom could only stare at the bandit; Luso's eyes were unfocused, almost as if they were made of glass. "When I first killed, I was pushed into it; I didn't have much of a choice. It was so easy, Chrom. I was dirtied. I was stained. The more I killed, the more innocent the target the harder it became to sleep at night. Now I can't feel the blood on my hands anymore. My dreams can't get any worse than they do now. I could kill those villagers over there and sleep just as well as I did before." Luso said.
"If you touch them, then favor or no, you will die where you stand." Chrom said.
"That wasn't what I meant." Luso shook his head sadly. "Those villagers, they can leave. I won't stop them. But I have changed. I can't go someplace where I don't deserve to go."
"Is that all?"
"What?"
"What you did or who you were in the past does not change what kind of a person you are now." Chrom said. "Robin has amnesia and I still accepted him. You are still that same person who looked out for my sister, the same person who risked their life to help us fight the risen. It's who you are now, what you will do and what you seek to do that matters. Come, join us."
"You'll still take me?" Luso said.
"Gladly," Chrom said as he undid the clasps on his cape. "Take this; it's got the mark of the Exalt on stitched onto its back. It'll mark you as an ally if anyone else takes to the field. When we get to the camp, I'll give you a proper blue cape, one that all Shepherds have."
"This is madness." Luso muttered.
"Glad to see Frederick will have someone who agrees with him for once." Chrom replied. "Alright, let's escort these villagers out of the town and return to the fight."
"What villagers?" Luso asked.
"Wait." Chrom pivoted about, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "Where did they go?"
"If you're talking about the people who came with you, they left a while ago." Luso said. "You really do get distracted when you talk, don't you."
"Well, this conversation is what stopped us from fighting." Chrom snorted. "If we didn't talk, I'd have to have killed you. Besides, being able to talk like this is a skill; I bet I'll be able to convince a lot of people to lay down their arms. Perhaps they'd even defect!"
"There he is!" A bandit cried. "I told you folks the Prince is here. We'll get a pretty penny if we take his head. Matthew, come on, let's attack him together!"
"If you want to try diplomacy now, be my guest." Luso said, as he sized up the four of bandits that had arrived. He knew the names of only two of them, although he did recognize all of their faces. Neither were the best fighters in the Soothsires, but he did know that Algol was a sadist who spent many a night with a trembling prisoner, and Rylan serrated the rusted edge of his sword to make his targets die screaming. The other two were Algol's followers, the people who held the victims down while the leaders did what they wanted.
"You want to make Chrom surrender?" Algol raised an eyebrow. "We never had a royal as a prize before. I can see the appeal."
"It isn't that." Rylan said. "That cloak...Matthew, you traitor, you son of a dog. Looks like those Ylisseans did train you, didn't they you little pup?"
"He's a traitor?" Algol said. "I always wondered why he was so quiet and mopey all the time. Well if he's a traitor then maybe we can get a sound from him for once."
Rylan growled his fingers wrapped around his sword-grip. "Well, I always did wonder if you're a screamer. From my experience those who swore the oath to be burned, bound and killed by iron tend to be teeth clenchers, but who knows? Al, I'll take Matt, you can take the Princey."
"Luso, let's do this together," Chrom said.
"Right behind you," Luso said as he eyed the bandits. "We can't take all four of them by ourselves."
"We won't, we'll be meeting up with Robin, Lissa and Frederick in the market." Chrom hissed.
"And that's-"
Chrom scowled. "Past them I know; when I say mark, make a run for it and until then, we fight."
Rylan and Algol rushed forward, their two subordinates tagging just behind them. Rylan was the first to attack, his jagged sword swiping just above Luso head. Quickly ducking forward and slashing upwards with his iron sword, Luso counterattacked but his weapon only nicked Rylan's chest plate. Barely fazed, the bandit raised his sword, intent on sweeping his sword about.
As his sword was out of position to properly counterattack or block, there was only one option that Luso could both logically and instinctively recognize as viable; charge. His left shoulder, still covered by his battered shield, rammed straight into Rylan's chest knocking him onto the ground. As Luso raised his sword to stab Rylan while he was down, the first of Algol's subordinates forced him away, flailing his axe about wildly.
Chrom finished him with a quick and clean stab to the chest. As the bandit knelt from the pain, Chrom raised his sword above his head and cut downwards causing the bandit's to go bouncing across the cobblestones. The prince took just a second to examine the situation as he kicked the corpse aside. Algol was in shock after seeing his friend's death, and Rylan was flat on the ground. There would be no greater opportunity.
"Let's go!" Chrom shouted. Rylan was already scrambling to his feet, and Algol was regaining his senses. The second of Algol's subordinates had wisely chosen to back away, waiting for his two allies to stand back up before he even considered attacking.
The three surviving bandits remained in hot pursuit of Chrom and Luso as they ran towards the market place, but the key word was pursuit. They could not block any escape route or prevent the two from reaching the market.
The first greeting Luso had to the market place was an overcharged thunder spell, that made the air crackle and smell like ozone. He'd gotten the warning to "take cover" by Chrom tackling him to the floor as Robin raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Algol, as it turned out, smelled far more like roast pork then Luso had ever wanted to know.
"Glad to see you two." Robin yawned; sparks flew off of his fingers as he placed his hand over his mouth and stretched. "It seems that Chrom could convince you after all."
"You knew Luso was here?" Chrom asked.
"Well, not really. Consider it a lucky guess; I sort of got that impression he would be here somehow; invisible ties between us all and all that nonsense as you might say." Robin said. "Though honestly, I just happened to see someone wearing Chrom's cloak and decided to adjust my aim."
"So wearing blue and gray just ended up saving my life," Luso muttered. "What do I know?"
"Well, this battle is far from over." Robin chuckled as a pair of bandits rounded the corner of an alleyway. Without even looking, he snapped his fingers and left one of them on the ground twitching with a thunder spell. "You may just lose it in the mean time if you aren't careful. Don't take that the wrong way though. Your life matters to me; I may need you as bait again sometime."
"I swear, someday you're not going to know everything so when I get used as bait I'll get a sword in my gut." Luso grumbled as he rushed forward to finish the bandit off.
"Lissa will patch you up," Robin said. "You'll be as good as new. No downsides at all."
Robin paused as though he was contemplating heavily for a few moments. "Well, except for the pain; that tends to hurt quite a bit doesn't it? But don't worry, you sadly aren't going to have the spotlight today."
"You're having a riot with this aren't you?" Chrom muttered as he parried a lunge. "How many more are there?"
"Not that many left actually," Robin said as he moved forward to attack a terrified bandit with his bronze sword. The bandit shoved Robin into a fruit stand, before raising his axe in a desperate attack.
With a grunt, Robin removed a book from god knows where, and raised his hand. A bolt of lightning arced from his fingertips and smashed into the bandit's face causing him to fall to the ground twitching. He then raised his hands a second time and cast a second thunder spell, which finished off the other enemy Chrom and Luso had been fighting.
"That was the last one for now. Now that's strategy, don't you say?" The tactician smirked. "We got through this part with hardly a wound. Permanent wound I mean. Lissa, why don't you go heal Luso?"
"Get out of those apples." Chrom deadpanned.
"Mmm..." Robin said. "We still have a couple bandits to go though. Don't worry though, our part in this battle is done by now."
"What?" Luso said. "But-"
"I'd rather just sit here and watch the show. You can join me if you want, there are plenty of barrels in this marketplace." Robin raised his hand and pointed downtown. Thundering hooves and the shouts of dozens of bandits echoed through the air as Frederick rode his destrier across a bridge towards the market place, with many foes in hot pursuit.
"Gods, how many of them are out there chasing him?" Chrom said. "Even if he's Ylisse's finest knight, Frederick cannot fight off that many bandits by himself Robin."
"Oh, I know." Robin rolled his eyes, as if the blue haired man was simply boring him. "I'm not a fool Chrom. That's why he's riding towards us,"
"And I thought you said that we weren't going to have to fight anymore. Err, how many of them are there?" Luso asked. His chest and arms were covered with lacerations from just a few scrapes from Rylan's sword. Despite Lissa's best efforts, he was still worn out.
"Oh, only about fifteen or so," Robin shrugged as he pulled an apple out from the basket he was sitting in. He first wiped it on his blood stained cloak, then after finding it unsavory, wiped it again with a less bloody part of his coat. Robin then sighed, reached down to grab a second apple and pulled out a ladle. Why there was a ladle in the middle of a bucket of apples, Luso would never know. "It seems like these bandits busted open the town jail and managed to recruit some scum to their cause. Don't worry, I told you, we don't have to lift another finger and I'm not saying that just because I can fire lighting out of my fingers too."
Chrom bit his lip. "three to one odds are-"
"Who said anything about three to one?" Robin said between bites. "Did you count Lissa as a fighter? As useful as her abilities may be, I doubt she'll be blocking any axes with that staff of hers."
"Alright, five to one then," Luso said. "Not much of a change, you know. If we don't have a better plan, I think I may just regret defecting."
"All I was asking was about your math." Robin said. "That's all. Our odds are going to be certainly more even than that."
"Robin, did you set another building to explode?" Chrom said. "Because despite Frederick's-"
"No, no." Robin said. "It's nothing that complicated. You know, what direction did I tell you to send those villagers running?"
"West, I don't see where this is going."
"That's good. Luso, when the Shepherds raided the bandit camp or shall I say your camp, what direction did they come from?"
"The East?"
"No. No. You couldn't have looked that far ahead. That's impossible."
"I'm always three steps ahead," Robin smirked as fifteen militiamen, a teal haired archer, and a cavalier in red armor burst through the town gates with weapons drawn. "Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. If we're outnumbered, all I need to even the odds are reinforcements."
Luso, as I stated earlier was based off of the Ogma Archetype. The Ogma archetype often refer to reoccurring loyal, moderately powerful swordsmen which have decent growths and appear in the early chapters of the game. Often times they have ties to Arenas and are in the service of a noble.
Officially in Awakening, Gregor is the Ogma archetype of the game but he does not appear early on, nor does he have any ties to Gladiators. I therefore deemed him a Non-Ogma and created my own.
Luso's Possible Supports.
Chrom, Robin, Stahl, Vaike, Isaac, Luke, Lon'qu, Libra, Frederick, Yen'fey, Nao'sho Phila, Lissa, Cherche, Sully, Lotice, Anna, Say'ri.
Class List: Fighter, Mercenary, Myrmidon.
Roster: A former bandit who turned a new leaf after being given the opportunity. Although he manages a cheerful facade, some say he seems a bit off in both his words and actions. The most talented at baking cakes.
