Chapter 16: Lost Treasures
As you march through the desert, Marth struggling to keep up with everyone, you become increasingly distressed. There are no landmarks, nothing but sand stretching as far as the eye can see. In the cool night air, you feel fine, but once day comes... Paen keeps assuring everyone that they're on the right path, Doran keeps looking anxiously at the map, and Agni and Taika march well ahead of everyone else, occasionally turning to shout some encouragement back. Finally, the sun begins to rise, as does the temperature.
By early morning, you can feel yourself getting a bit faint, despite drinking plenty of water. Several other members of your group are showing obvious signs of fatigue. Just when you're about to suggest turning back, Agni stops in his tracks, before turning to face your group. "We're here!" he announces. Before you can ask what he means, he seems to disappear before your eyes.
Taika rolls her eyes. "It's an invisibility spell. Extremely high level light magic. It took a team of 12 archsages several days to finish, but it still persists centuries later. It's how our school has remained safe for all these years." She draws a pair of lines in the sand, several feet apart. "Make sure the wagon passes between these lines, and you wyvern riders may want to watch your heads." With that, she disappears as well, though you can still hear her voice. "Well? Are you coming or not?"
You hesitantly guide Marth forward. Suddenly, a large rock with a massive opening appears in front of you. Taika waves you in, and you can see Agni lighting torches as he descends into the darkness. You look back over your shoulder; your friends are still there, though they look a bit distorted. You guide Marth into the cave, as the others follow behind you in a line.
The dark tunnel descends at an uncomfortably sharp angle. Eventually, it starts to level out. In the distance, you can make out a faint glow. As you get closer, you realize it's an opening into a colossal chamber. The first thing you notice is a massive crystal in the ceiling lighting the entire room. There is also a large lake, and several large patches of crops grow in and around it. A few animals, mostly yaks, are shambling around. An elderly man in a pure white robe approaches you from a small tunnel in the back.
"Welcome, welcome..." he says, with a feeble voice. "Ah, Agni, so good to see you again, my son..." Agni bows respectfully. "I see you have completed your journey... Congratulations."
"No, Master. I now see that my journey will never be complete."
"Oh ho ho... Well said, well said... So, who's your pretty young friend here?" he asks, circling around you. Marth snorts defensively.
"Her name is June, Master. A knight who serves no country."
"Ah, how interesting..." he mutters. He eyes each of your friends as they come in, and Agni introduces them in turn. He takes particular interest in Rain. "One of Anri's descendants..." he mutters, before she even comes into view through the dark hallway.
Once everyone assembles in the room, looking around with incredulous stares, the old man addresses them all. "Greetings and well met, my friends. I am Master Praven, the... shepard, shall we say, of those who study here. I have been expecting you for quite some time now; it seems you took a detour on the way here."
"We stopped to deal with a bandit named Baladeva," Doran explains. "His men had taken the population of a small village prisoner."
"How unfortunate..." Praven begins. "For those men to have gone beyond redemption... Well, no matter. You come because of the Risen, yes?"
"That is correct," Paen states.
"We need the Fire Emblem," Saul adds. "The Awakening must be performed."
"You seek to use the legendary blade, then?" he asks, looking at Rain. She nods. "I see. Well, that is not the only option open to you, I will say." This time, he stares at Paen. "But it is still one worth taking. I will retrieve the emblem for you. In the meantime, you also seek information, yes?"
Doran snaps to attention. "Yes, anything you can tell us-"
Praven silences him with a single finger. "I can guide you to the source of this evil, but I will not be able to tell you anything about it. But a tome, buried deep under our school many centuries ago, should be able to tell you something. I warn you, however, it is well-guarded by spirits of the long dead. If you wish for their knowledge, you will need to pass their challenge."
"Master..." Taika begins.
"Ah, yes..." Praven sighs. "Very well. Because the fate of the world is at stake... We have several powerful artifacts which may aid you. But I warn you, they are all guarded, and you will need to seek them out at the same time. Take care not to spread your forces too thin, but know the guardians will only allow you to take so many warriors into each challenge. The tome of darkness holds the information you seek, but I will also allow you to seek the tomes of light and nature."
(A) Decline searching for any of the tomes
(B) Only seek the dark tome
(C) Only the light
(D) Nature only
(E) Light and dark
(F) Light and nature
(G) Dark and nature
(H) All three
"We'll go for the dark and nature tomes," you say confidently. No one argues.
Praven nods slowly. "Very well then, young one. Agni, Taika, please guide them to the vaults. The pair bow low, then lead you into a small, dark tunnel. Your riders are forced to dismount; Anna agrees to tend to the animals while you gather the tomes. Your monks light the way as you descend the stone stairs carved into to tunnel. You lose track of time descending the stairs, and decide to count them on the way back up. A few minutes, an hour... However long it takes, you finally arrive at the base of the staircase. A short tunnel leads to another crystal-lit chamber, much smaller than the last. Three stone doors are visible on the far end. A sun is carved into the left door, a flame into the right. The center door has no markings. As you approach the doors, a shade appears before you.
The pale shade has no definitive figure, though it seems to be human. You aren't sure if it is man or woman, young or old; it almost seems to be shifting between them imperceptibly quickly. It speaks in a language you don't recognize. Agni responds in what you assume to be Terran. After a few exchanges, he turns back to you. "I have told him we will be claiming the dark and nature tomes sealed here. He says we may be taking nine warriors into each arena, where we must defeat... Ah, Taika, what is the word?"
"Legends, would be the closest word in their language. Fallen heroes. Ones who have connections to the weapons in question."
"This is going to be tough..." Doran says. "But I assume this means we'll be fighting mages, mostly?"
Agni relays the question. The shade responds, and Agni shakes his head. "Mostly, mostly likely. But some of those close to them may also be coming."
Available units: June, Rain, Bud, Haley, Wendy, Ferris, Alyssa, Jessup, Syrene, Agni, Dan, Walt, Holland, John, Taika, Mary, Fumiko, Charon, Doran, Paen, Claudia, Saul, Rosalin, Cecil
Dark: Leader – June
Alyssa, Jessup, John, Mary, Fumiko, Cecil, Agni, Syrene
Nature: Paen, Rain, Holland, Saul, Taika, Bud, Wendy, Haley, Ferris
You decide to take Alyssa and Jessup, John, Mary and Fumiko, Cecil, and Agni and Syrene with you. You approach the door with your team in tow, and it rises as you approach, the stone grinding against its frame. Alyssa smiles as she places a hand on your shoulder, then gives you a slight push. You stumble in, less than gracefully. There is nothing but a large, empty room. As the last of your friends funnels in, the door slides shut behind you. As the door slams to a close, six figures begin to materialize before you.
On the left is a thin man in a fuschia tunic, wearing a magnificent cape, black on the outside, red on the inside. His red hair falls just below his shoulder, and a red glow is visible on his forehead. He smirks at you as an efiminate figure appears beside him. The female wears a similar cape, and a dark dress, a deep slit revealing her thigh-high white boots. Her pale hair is tied in a ponytail. She appears downtrodden, clinging to the red-haired man.
On the right, a man in a deep blue robe with a red sash tied around his hips appears. His purple hair slightly obscures the glass monocole he wears. He wears a slight smile, unlike the smaller shade that takes shape beside him. A young, green-haired girl appears beside him, wearing a simple blue shirt, white skirt, and blue cape. She seems almost excited to be here, wearing a giant smile.
In the center, a pale young woman appears, with long, lavender hair that trails the floor. Her elegant, flowing dress matches her hair, and a deep purple cape completes her outfit. Behind her, the final shade is taking shape more slowly than the others. Finally, it solidifies, but remains impossible to discern. A dark purple robe covers all but half of its face; you can feel the power radiating from her. The girl with the long hair steps forward.
"I am... Sophia. Who are you? Why... have you come here?"
Agni answers. "We are seeking the tome sealed in this cave."
"I see..." she begins. "Very well... Pass our trial... and you may claim your prize..."
"Who are they?" you whisper to Agni.
"Einherjar," Agni answers. "Spirits of the long-dead. Mighty warriors, left for guarding our treasures."
"Heh... My name's Julius," the red-haired man answers. "It's only right for you to know the name of the man who will kill you!"
The girl behind him steps forward. "Please, do not underestimate them, my prince..."
"Ha! Don't worry about them, Ishtar! Let's have a competition, shall we? Whoever kills their leader wins." You think you see a slight smile appear on the girl's face.
"Please forgive them their brashness," the man on the right asks as he sizes you up. He pauses when his eyes meet Mary's. "My, a fellow dark mage? I would love to speak with you about your discoveries."
"Canas! This isn't the time for that!" the little girl admonishes.
"Ah, yes, yes. Right as always, Nino. Perhaps after our battle?"
The girl with the lavender hair signals for silence. "Well then... Shall we begin?"
The figure in the back remains still.
Victory: Defeat ?
(A) Split your forces 3-3-3
(B) Try to force the enemies into one cluster and fight 9-on-6
(C) Send smaller teams to delay the others, while focusing on the right (Canas/Nino)
(D) Same as C, but focus on the left (Julius/Ishtar)
(E) Blitz the figure in the back
Unless you choose E, you need to decide:
(1) Fight the boss like a normal enemy
(2) Try to avoid her until the others are gone
"John, Mary, go keep those two busy. Fumiko, distract that one. Cecil, back her up, but don't fight that one in the back unless you absolutely have to! Everyone else, we're taking down the braggart over there!"
"You think so?" he taunts.
"I won't let you!" Ishtar yells simultaneously.
Fumiko leaps in front of Sophia, fangs bared. Cecil stays behind her, readying his bow. Mary and John intercept Nino and Canus. Agni, Syrene, Alyssa, and Jessup follow you as you attack Julius.
"Fool!" he yells. As you attack, you feel your strength sapping away. You throw your hatchet, but he simply bats it away. "You can't defeat the power of Loputousu!" Syrene looses an arrow while he's distracted, but Ishtar leaps in the way. She yelps in pain as it strikes her shoulder. Julius' laugh turns into a snarl. He shoves past her, focusing on Syrene. "You... How dare you raise your hand to a god?"
Before you can react, a ball of darkness appears. A dark serpent launches out of it, headed straight for Syrene. It clasps her in its mouth, hurling her into the air. She cries out, either in pain or fear, as it disappears back into the æther. She returns to the ground with a resounding thud. Agni and Jessup are between Julius and Syrene before you can give an order, healing her.
"Go!" Agni yells at you.
You turn back to Julius, your hatchet reappearing in your hand. You throw it again, with a similar effect. This time, the serpent lunges at you when Julius summons it. Knowing what to expect, you manage to leap out of the way at the last second, but Ishtar follows Julius' attack with a giant ball of lightning that you weren't expecting. As the electricity crackles through your armor, you can feel your muscles rapidly seizing and releasing. The sensation is gone as quickly as it appeared, but it leaves you feeling even more drained than before.
Alyssa seems to appear out of nowhere behind Julius. She grabs his hair, ripping his head back and exposing his throat. She slides her dagger unceremoniously across his neck. "No one hurts my little sister..." A thin red line appears from the wound, gradually becoming thicker and thicker. He turns, mouthing something, but no words come. He raises his tome, but can't form the words he needs. He collapses to his knees, still reaching for Alyssa, his face an expression of rage.
"No... NO!" Ishtar screams. She struggles to reach Julius, but he throws her off, still scrambling for Alyssa. He manages to grab the scruff of her cloak, but no longer has the strength to fight. His shade dissolves, turning into a dark mist and fading. "NO!" Ishtar whirls around on Alyssa. She fires her lightning spell again. Alyssa tries to avoid it, but stumbles on Julius' not-quite-dissolved remains. She yells as she collapses to the ground. You manage to raise your lance, charging at Ishtar's exposed back. She whirls around, and your lance barely grazes her side.
She hurls her spell at you again, and once again you feel the pain coursing through your body. This time, however, you also feel a familiar warmth as Jessup heals you. Agni unleashes a pillar of flame, which Ishtar doesn't avoid in time. Syrene, rising to her feet, throws a dagger that embeds itself in her chest. You manage to bring your axe up in time to swat the tome from her hand as she prepares to fire again. Slowly, she begins to fade, as Julius before her.
You look in on the other groups. Fumiko and Cecil are keeping Sophia on the defensive, while John and Mary seem evenly matched with Canus and Nino.
"Show me what you have discovered in your journeys!" Canus calls to Mary as he throws a ball of shadow at her. She evades, and counters with a pillar of shadowfire. "Ah, Luna, the spell of choice for fighting a mage..." As he talks, he dodges easily. Nino steps up, casting several small fireballs at Mary's feet. John shoves her out of the way as a pillar of flame erupts beneath her.
When the flames clear, he counters with a ball of light, cast towards Nino. She shrugs off the blow, and Canus patches her up. Mary heals John's burns at the same time. The quartet return to their standoff. Eventually, Mary spots an opening. "He wants to see what we've learned, John? Let's show him..."
She throws a ball of darkness into the ground. John seems confused for a second, until realization clicks in his eyes. "Right!" he yells, throwing a ball of light upwards. The two move towards Canus.
"Wh-" is all Canus has time to get out before the two collide. He's sent reeling backwards by the dazzling explosion. Nino shrugs off the attack instantly, countering with a gust of wind. Instead of the normal green coloration, the wind has a blue hue. As it swirls around Mary, her body begins to encase in ice.
"Naga, help us!" Jessup calls. A faint, warm wind stirs in the underground cave. You feel a bit better, and your friends seem to be recovering a bit as well. Fumiko tackles Nino out of nowhere, slashing her. You notice Sophia beginning to fade the same as Julius and Ishtar as Cecil runs to help Fumiko.
"Nino!" Canus yells, recovering and trying to run to her aid. Cecil stops him with his tomohawk. Finally, only one shade remains.
The mysterious purple-clad figure still stands perfectly still near the back of the room. Finally, it speaks. The voice is decidedly female, but... something is off about it. It almost sounds like another person is whispering in the background, echoing her words. "My... friends. Why have you...?"
The girl begins to change before your very eyes. The purple cloak seems to meld into her skin, segmenting into small plates of armor. Her figure distorts. She becomes larger and larger, her features warping. A flash of light blinds you for a moment. When your vision returns, a giant, royal purple dragon stands before you, its figures accentuated with red. Its serpentine eyes stare at you. You instinctively take a step backwards, as it unleashes a ferocious roar.
An unfamiliar voice echoes in your ear. At first, you can't make out what it's saying, but suddenly, it becomes clear. "Heed me, child. Your strength alone will not avail you against the dragon of darkness..."
"Who...?" you ask, looking around. None of your friends are speaking, aside from the words needed to cast healing spells. They back against the door. The dragon stands its ground on the far side of the room.
"I can give you the strength to defeat this dragon. Accept my challenge, if you will show me your strength... I will allow you to bring two of your compatriots... Do not fear, you will return in time to save your allies..."
Available units:
Alyssa (seriously wounded)
Syrene, Mary (moderately wounded)
John, Fumiko (slightly wounded)
Cecil, Jessup, Agni (unwounded)
(A) Accept the challenge (Jessup, Cecil)
(B) Fight the dragon head on
(C) Fight the dragon, surrounding it
(D) Custom plan
Well, it looks like A, with Cecil and Jessup, wins. Y'know, it sure would be a dick move to cut away from this action right about now. Just leave June staring down a dark dragon with a mysterious voice calling to her.
...So, who's leading the other team?
(A) Paen
(B) Rain
(C) Saul
(D) Taika