Chapter 6: Invasion
As you return to the barracks, Dan's wyvern following you, you see Commander Doran, Dan, and Rain assembled on the roof. "Commander! Enemies approaching from the south!"
Doran's response is drowned out by a shriek from Shard as he lands on the roof, crawling over to Dan and nuzzling against him. "Oh, Shard, you're OK..." You notice Dan has been patched up.
Doran, unfazed by the 15-foot tall monster from the paleolithic era landing right next to him, calls down to you. "June! Get to the armory! We're pulling out all the stops!" You notice your friends are all carrying shiny new weapons, and you lead your group to claim theirs.
Rain received brave lance!
Lane received brave sword!
Alyssa received killing edge!
Agni received elwind!
Dan received steel axe and short axe!
Haley, Agni, and Alyssa received vulneraries!
Lane, Jessup, Dan, and Syrene received concoctions!
As you enter the armory, you crash headlong into a green-armored knight. You recognize his close-cropped pink hair; he was one of the two survivors of the Risen ambush a few days ago. "Ah... Excuse me, miss. I failed to watch where I was going. My apologies."
A red-armored knight, with long brown hair pulled into a ponytail steps out behind him. "Oh, what's this, then, Walt? Found yourself a pretty young lass to play with before the big fight?"
"Jayce! Do not impugn my honor, nor hers. Now come, we must hurry to our stations. I wish you luck in the coming battle, miss." He gives you a slight bow as he steps beside you.
"Bah, he's got a stick so far up his ass, it's a miracle he can stand to sit a saddle... Ha!" The second knight turns to you. "Careful in there, miss, everyone's in quite a tiff. Better hurry if you're looking for the best weapons."
You step into the armory to find half the troops you've met all gathered in one place, all shuffling and shoving for weapons. You and your group joins the fray.
Bud received steel bow and longbow!
Ferris received silver sword!
Haley received steel lance and silver sword!
Bud, Ferris, and Haley received vulneraries!
You somehow manage to fight your way through the throng and come out with a brace of axes. They are...
Choose 2:
(A) Brave Axe
(B) Silver Axe
(C) Short Axe
(D) Volant Axe
(E) Superior Axe
(F) Bolt Axe
(G) Hammer
(H) Poleaxe
You manage to get out of the throng with a particularly long axe, and an axe with most of its head carved out; its light weight makes you think it's designed for speed instead of damage. You see the rest of your group has managed to collect some weapons as well, and you head up to the roof.
Commander Doran is barking orders, positioning knights, mercenaries, and militia into defensive positions around the barracks. The sound of wings grabs his attention, and Wendy floats up to the roof, on a new mount. He white armor has been reinforced with silver trimmings, her blue hair barely poking out of her new helmet. Her new mount is charcoal black, and covered in dark armor.
Wendy has promoted to Dark Flier!
Wendy received fire tome and silver lance!
"Commander! I've finished telling all the villagers to take cover. You orders?"
"Fall in, Wendy. I've got a special mission for you." He notices you for the first time. "You as well, June. All of your team." As he orders troops into position, he gradually filters a handful out to join him on the roof. Soon, you are surrounded by Bud, Rain, Haley, Wendy, Lane, Ferris, Jessup, Alyssa, Syrene, and Agni. "Not enough mounts..." you hear Doran mutter. "Jayce! Walt! Dan, you too! Get over here!" When everyone's gathered, Doran addresses all of you.
"All right, listen up. There's no chance that we'll be able to hold against this enemy force. I plan to bleed them as best we can, then surrender the town. However, we must, must warn the capital. That's where you come in. We'll slow them down, try to take out their fliers and cavalry, you just focus on running. Get to the capital. Warn the council. Any questions?"
No one speaks. You look around the circle. Most of your comrades have a look of grim determination on their faces. Rain's face is crossed with worry, but she bits her tongue. You can now see about 3 dozen wyverns flapping around the southern border of town. You're running out of time.
(A) Depart immediately
(B) Wait until the enemy is committed to the attack and try to slip away in the confusion
(C) Try to draw the wyverns into battle ahead of their main force, then escape
"Are they using their wyverns to scout?" you ask Dan.
"Most likely." He takes off, briefly circling the building before landing again; this seems to cause a bit of a stir among the enemy wyverns, and they come a bit closer. "Yes, it appears they're a good ways ahead of the enemy's main force."
"Commander Doran, I think we should try to lure those wyverns in closer, then slip away when they're busy with the troops here."
"Hm..." He strokes his chin thoughtfully. "Clever. And if we can take down those wyverns, your odds of reaching the capital are greatly improved... All right, saddle up and move. But for Naga's sake, be careful, it's no exaggeration to say the fate of Valeria rides with you."
Who do you want to ride with you?
(A) Bud
(B) Lane
(C) Ferris
(D) Alyssa
(E) Jessup
(F) Syrene
(H) Agni
June: Ferris
Dan: Syrene
Wendy: Bud
Haley: Jessup
Walt: Lane
Jayce: Agni
Rain: Alyssa
Ferris jumps on Marth's back. Before you can set out, a voice calls from the rampart. "June! Take this with you!" Commander Doran tosses you a small blue satchel.
June received elixer!
Aside: elixers are used as extra lives, allowing a fallen character a second chance.
You shout your thanks to Doran, then gallop off. You hear the others falling in behind you. You set south, preparing to attack the wyverns. As you approach, a handful throw their axes at you, but none connect. Your forces return their attacks with bow and tome; one rider loses his seat and falls several dozen feet to the ground, landing on his neck. One of the wyverns goes into a panic as it's simultaneously struck by an arrow and two fireballs. The berserk wyvern almost throws its rider, but other wyvern riders manage to help him get it under control. Before the enemy can recover, your team launches a second attack, then retreats out of their throwing range.
The ground forces are still a few minutes behind, but the enemy cavalry spots the wyverns in trouble and begins to pull ahead. The wyverns follow you a bit to attack, but you dance on the edge of their range, moving in to pelt them from afar, then retreating, drawing them ever closer to the barracks and bleeding their numbers. The riders realize your trap, and stop well short of the barracks, though they've already lost almost a third of their force. For a moment, you fear your plan has failed, until you look up and see Doran smirking on the rooftop. "Fire!" he calls in his booming voice.
A dozen archers pop out from shop windows and alleyways south of the barracks. The wyverns have no time to react before another third is shot down. As they retreat, more are picked off. Of the three dozen scouts they began with, only four go limping home, most with serious wounds. Doran smiles down at you. "Well, this is your chance. Get moving."
The capital is a day and a half to the north by horse. After a few hours of hard riding, the sun has set. You decide to make camp. You don't dare to risk a fire, but you decide few hours of rest will do but you and your mounts some good.
Support-building time! Choose 7.
(A) June/Ferris B
(B) June/Syrene C
(C) June/Agni C
(D) June/Dan C
(E) Rain/Alyssa C
(F) Bud/Wendy B
(G) Bud/Syrene C
(H) Haley/Jessup C
(I) Wendy/Agni C
(J) Lane/Walt C
(K) Alyssa/Syrene C
(L) Jessup/Agni C
(M) Syrene/DanC
(N) Agni/Jayce C
Also, pick 3 guards to watch the camp.
Alyssa, Bud, Wendy
"Wake the others," you whisper. You hope the threat will pass unnoticed. Maybe you'll even be able to catch them off guard and tired...
Alyssa moves around the camp, stirring the others as she stirred you. You gather your axes, moving as quietly as possible. Bud continues to watch the road. Alyssa wakes Rain, Walt, Jayce, and Agni. You move to help her, approaching Wendy and waking her the same as Alyssa woke you. Alyssa moves on to Jessup, and you approach Dan, asleep beside his mount. When you try to cover his mouth and shush him, he lets out a muffled cry, as have several of the others. It's nowhere near loud enough to alert the riders on the road; however, a deep growling noise gives you pause.
You slowly look to the left, to see Shard's eye flutter open, then adjust to stare into your own. Seeing you with your hands on his master, he bares his fangs and releases a piercing shriek. You jump back. Well, everyone's awake now, your friends all jumping to their feet. The riders, who were nearly passed, come to a halt. You realize there were a few more than you had thought, but still only around two dozen. You charge to the front of your forces, as the enemy cavalry forms a line and prepares to charge.
Those who were awakened early on form up behind and beside you. Bud looses an arrow as the knights begin to charge, felling the lead cavalier. You brace your poleaxe into the ground, and another cavalier impales himself upon it, unable to turn as his comrades box him in. You rip your axe free, and drive it into a paladin as he passes. He falls from his horse, but rolls to his feet, and turns to face you, sword drawn. You draw your brave axe and face him. Ferris appears beside you, a wicked smile on his face. "What, you guys weren't going to invite me?"
Dan and Rain have launched a counter charge, diving through the enemy's formation before rolling around and slashing through their rear. Agni narrowly dodges a great knight's lance, before spinning around and incinerating him with a fireball, "The power of the flame cannot be tamed!" The great knight screams in pain, falling to the ground, his black armor glowing red. Beside him, Bud grabs a cavalier's lance, ripping him to the ground.
Syrene has climbed into a tree, loosing arrows and evading javelins. Alyssa drops from somewhere higher in the tree, landing on a passing cavalier and slitting his throat before nimbly rolling off and disappearing into a bush. Walt and Jayce emerge from the trees, mounted and slashing at anyone who comes in range. Haley and Wendy are back-to-back, swords in hand, separated from their mounts. Jessup hides under a bush, jumping out and running to heal Bud when he receives a slash to the shoulder.
You manage to wipe out the cavalry, and Bud and Syrene plant a brace of arrows into the last survivor as he tries to flee. After the battle, you realize something had been missing. The normal sounds of battle were... dulled. That's when you realize, Lane's familiar screech of rage was absent from the battle. As everyone cleans themselves up, you dash into the thicket, searching, praying she's OK. You find her pinned to a tree, a lance driven through her shoulder straight into the ground. "Oh, gods... JESSUP! Lane's hurt! She's hurt really badly..." She barely looks up as she hears you screaming.
Use Elixer?
(A) Yes
(B) No
"Hang in there, Lane. Help's on the way..." You pull the elixer out of your bag, and force it into her mouth. "Drink, come on, drink..." Lane takes a few sips, and begins coughing. Her first few coughs cause her to spew blood, but after a few more sips, she begins to breath normally.
"Get this... Ungh... Damn spear out of me... Oh, gods, that really hurts..."
Jessup comes running up, the color draining from her face. "Oh gods, is she alive? I'm so sorry, I didn't see her get hurt, I didn't go to help her..."
"I'm fine, just... get this spear out of me, or I'm not going anywhere. Dastard got me before I could reach my sword..."
Ferris peaks over your shoulder. "Well, I guess I should train you in the art of napping. If you always take that long waking up, you're going to end up dead over and over again."
"Yeah, ha-ha, let's all laugh at Lane... Ignore the fact that there is a spear in her arm, pinning her to the ground!" You draw your axe and quickly hack the head off the spear. "OW!" Before you can help her, Lane grabs the shaft of the spear, ripping it out of her shoulder. She turns to Jessup. "Well? Patch me up. I'd hate to bleed to death now and waste June's elixer. Tsk. I was careless..."
Jessup is very clearly shaken, but he raises his staff, and a glowing light surrounds Lane's shoulder. The hole closes quickly, and a look of relief washes over her face. "That's better. Sorry to be such a burden... It won't happen again. I swear it."
Jessup is exhausted!
Bud is exhausted!
"We need to get moving again. Even if the enemy's scouts have been wiped out, we must reach Antea and warn them as fast as possible. If they don't have time to prepare, this will all be for naught." Rain's warning spurs everyone to action, and you set out immediately. Your mounts are moving much faster, obviously glad for the break.
You pass a few traders, and buy a small meal, which you eat along the way. You are only a few miles from the capital, two hours ride, at most, before you encounter anything else. Your fliers lower themselves, and Rain warns you that a group of Risen are on the path ahead of you. She says she spots 10 axe-wielders and at least 4 archers in the trees beside the trail. You assume there are likely more in the trees.
(A) Charge through them, maybe they'll slow the Carcinan's down
(B) Best deal with them now
(C) Send a small team to fight them (choose 5, need not include June) while the rest watch for reinforcements
(D) Take a different route to Antea
"Break through!" You don't slow your pace. Instead, you spur Marth on, pushing him as hard as you can. You slam a pair of Risen fighters out of the way, smashing one's skull with your axe as you pass. Ferris sends the other's head sailing.
You look overhead. Rain easily slips by the enemy in the air, gracefully weaving between the arrows. Haley, Wendy and Dan try to follow her, but they can't keep up with their captain's acrobatics. Wendy and Dan make it through without any major injuries, but an arrow catches Haley in the flank, and she loses her grip. Before she can fall, Jessup grabs hold of her, and she manages to regain control, flapping to safety.
Haley is now exhausted!
Clear of the Risen's arrows, you turn to watch the others. Jayce tears through the enemy's line easily, deflecting an axe swing with his sword. Walt approaches the enemy line, but you notice his horse is slowing down instead of speeding up. At his present speed, he won't be able to pierce the enemy's line... He something, and the horse lunges forward once more; however, Lane was not prepared for the force of the sudden jolt. She grabs her shoulder, clutching at her wound as she falls to the ground. Walt spears a Risen as he passes, dropping the javelin and continuing on. It's not until he clears the Risen and sees the look on your face that he notices his missing rider.
Lane struggles to her feet, narrowly evading an axe swing that would have severed her head from her neck. She reaches for her sword, pulling the monster blade out of its scabbard and decapitating the attacking Risen in one fell swoop. Before she can react, an arrow embeds itself in her chest. "I'm... done for... GO!" she calls to you. You hesitate, and start to move back to her. More Risen burst from the trees between you, at least three dozen. You know you can't make it in time. "GO!" you hear again, more forcefully.
As you watch on, Lane swings her blade in a viscous arc, felling a Risen and badly wounding the two beside it. She whirls it over her head as she spins, bringing it down in a powerful vertical slice, cleaving a Risen in twain. Another arrow flies from the trees, catching her in the chest beside the first. You see her stagger backwards. One last time, she calls to you - "GET OUT OF HERE, DAMMIT!" - before raising her sword and charging back into the throng of Risen, screaming her usual enraged scream. You turn and reluctantly begin moving away. Suddenly, the screaming stops. As you glance back one last time, you see with her slumped down with her back to a tree, another half dozen arrows now sprouting from her chest. "I should have... trained harder... Should have... been the best..."
End of chapter 6
Lane has been killed…
New Character!
Dan
Class: Wyvern Rider
Skills: Strenth+, Luna
HP: ****
Str: ****(*)
Mag: *
Skill: ****
Speed: *****
Def: ***
Res: *
Luck: ***
New Character!
Walt
Class: Cavalier
Skills: Pavise
HP: ****
Str: ****
Mag: *
Skill: ***
Speed: ****
Def: ***
Res: ****
Luck: ***
New Character!
Jayce
Class: Cavalier
Skills: Renewal, Focus
HP: ***
Str: ***
Mag: *
Skill: ****
Speed: *****
Def: ****
Res: ***
Luck: ***