Chapter 16x: The Berserker
You are June again
"I accept your challenge!" you call out to no one in particular. Several members of your team, the ones not busy healing people, look at you in confusion.
Very well. Enter... With that, a section of the floor caves in. You can see a faint red glow emanating from below. You approach it cautiously.
"June, what are you doing!?" Alyssa calls to you.
You hesitantly look back at your group. "I have no idea..." you admit. "Cecil, Jessup, follow me!" With that, you leap into the hole.
"June! You aren't-" Alyssa calls after you. Jessup looks at her in fear. "You don't have to go, Jessup..."
He shakes his head. "No, I... If June needs me, I'll be there to support her..." With that, he cautiously approaches the hole, eyeing the dragon cautiously.
Cecil stands dumbfounded for a moment. "These crazy kids are going to be the death of me..." he mutters, as he leaps in behind you.
You land on an uneven black stone platform. The heat seems to strike you all at once. As you look around the room, you see an altar in the middle of a lake of flames. The room itself is a mixture of magma and dark stone. You step out of the way as Jessup lands beside you, screaming as he falls. You pull him out of the way as Cecil lands right behind him. You here a crashing sound from above; looking up, you can see the path has caved in.
"Welcome," a voice greets you. Looking up, two men have materialized beside the altar. One wears green armor. You think it's the armor of a hero, but its design is ancient. His face is hidden behind a heavy helm. The other wears bright blue armor, with a thick red cape. Both are sporting large axes. "I am Kaim... If you wish for power... you must prove yourself to us..." the one in green says.
"I'm Hector, lord of Ostia. Former lord, I suppose. Like he said, if you want the power to slay dragons, you're going to have to show us you can use it first." With that, the blue-haired man hefts his axe toward you. A pillar of flame shoots from the floor between you - it looks like this entire platform is unstable. You see some places are a bit darker than others, including the spot that was just engulfed in flame. You decide to try to force the pair onto these spots whenever possible.
Hector - Great Lord - wolf beil - pavise, aegis, luna, rightful king
Kaim - Hero - tomahawk - wrath, sol
(A) June attacks Kaim
(B) June attacks Hector
(C) June supports with her bow
(1) Cecil attacks Kaim
(2) Cecil attacks Hector
(3) Cecil supports with his bow
(W) Jessup attacks Kaim
(X) Jessup attacks Hector
(Y) Jessup supports with magic
(Z) Jessup supports with healing
Hector and Kaim will prioritize whoever attacks them (with June then Cecil most preferred if they all attack the same target). If you don't have someone attacking one, then he'll attack randomly.
You open the fight with a lunge at Hector. He dodges vertically, leaping high above you despite his heavy armor. His axe flashes silver as he drives it down onto your head. Your armor barely reduces the force of the blow, and you stagger backwards, glad it didn't cleave your skull open. "Still alive?" he taunts you. "Hm. Well, you're tough, at least."
"Please, stay alive!" you hear Jessup shouting, as the red glow of the magma mixes with a brilliant golden aura. You can feel yourself calming down, your muscles relaxing and your wounds healing. The heat of the room seems suddenly more bearable.
Cecil intercepts Kaim as he goes for Jessup. "You've got a lot to learn!" he shouts, slamming into Kaim's exposed flank with his claymore. For a moment, you expect the sword to go clean through. The force of the blow drove it deep into Kaim, and for a moment you worry about Cecil managing to free his blade. As Kaim struggles to raise his axe, Cecil kicks into him, ripping the sword free and putting some distance between them.
You strike back at Hector. This time, he doesn't manage to evade in time, but he manages to lower his shoulderplate just enough to absorb the brunt of the impact. When he counters with his own axe, you easily leap back and clear it. Out of the corner of your eye, you see Cecil leaping into the air. "You're ten years too early to beat me!" he yells, as he brings his sword down onto the dead center of Kaim's helmet. Kaim manages a weak groan as he drops to the ground, disappearing in a now-familiar mist.
When Hector hesitates for a moment, you manage to slash across his chestplate. He grunts in pain as he falls back. Jessup hurls a fireball at him, but he manages to jump to the side. Unfortunately, the spot he leaps to suddenly erupts in a pillar of flame. When the fires dissipate, he struggles to his feet. Before he can recover fully, you slam your axe into the side of his head, as he dissolves into mist.
With the threats gone, you climb to the top of the altar. Resting on the pedestal is a massive axe, almost as long as you are tall, with a head as large as your torso. As you reach out for the axe, another shade appears before you. A large, muscular man, a berserker from the looks of his armor.
"Well fought. I will give you permission to use my axe, Armads. But know that should you choose to accept this burden, you will not die peacefully, but on the battlefield. Such is the price of this power. Should you refuse, I shall allow you to wield Armads, but its true power shall be denied you. So, daughter of man, will you accept?"
(A) Accept
(B) Refuse
"June..." Jessup begins. "You don't have to do this... What's the point of fighting for peace if you aren't going to survive to enjoy it?"
Cecil shrugs. "I'd accept it. Then again, a mercenary like me is doomed to die on the battlefield anyway. I won't think any less of you either way."
You turn to the berserker. "I've come this far on my own power, and with the power of my friends. I do not need this strength."
"So be it. Take up my axe, but know its true power will be sealed." With that, the man disappears.
You slowly reach for the axe. It's heavy, much heavier than any axe you've wielded before. You give it a few practice swings. You're surprised with how easily you can control the massive weapon, despite its size.
"That's quite an impressive axe, and I'm real glad for you, but... How do we get out of here?" Cecil asks. You had been so fascinated with your new axe that you had forgotten you were in the middle of a pit of lava, or that your friends were fighting a giant dragon. Suddenly, a bright flash of light engulfs you.
You find yourself back in the chamber with a very large, very angry-looking dragon roaring at you. "J-June!? Cec- Jessup!" you hear someone yelling behind you. You quickly survey the situation. Fumiko and Syrene are standing between the dragon and the rest of your group. Syrene seems to be holding her own well enough, but Fumiko is staggering and has several burn marks across her coat. John is standing directly behind them, attempting to heal Fumiko. Mary and Agni stand at the far side of the room. Alyssa struggles to stay standing as Mary heals her, while Agni prepares to fire another fireball at Idoun.
June: fully healed, midline
Alyssa: critically injured, rearline
Jessup: not injured, midline
John: moderately injured, frontline
Mary: slightly injured, rearline
Fumiko: seriously injured, frontline
Cecil: slightly injured, midline
Agni: not injured, rearline
Syrene: slightly injured, frontline
Idoun: moderately injured
Choose where everyone's going - front, mid, or rear. Aside from Idoun, of course.
Front: June, Cecil, Agni
Rear: Everyone else
"Cecil, Agni, follow me! Everyone else, fall back and heal yourselves!"
You take the the front, stopping Idoun from pursuing Fumiko as she limps to the rear. Syrene hesitates for a moment before pulling back as she slips out her bow. As you heft Armads before Idoun, you see a flash of recognition in her eyes. She roars at you in what could only be rage, before lunging straight at you.
You manage to leap to the side to avoid her bite, but her claws rake your armor. You swing Armads, striking her exposed flank. The axe penetrates her scales, but not deep enough to inflict a mortal wound. With a roar of pain, she lashes out at the first thing she can reach: Agni. He leaps out of the way as she slashes at him with her claw, but she manages to catch him in her jaws. You can hear the sound of bones cracking as she bites down. Agni screams in pain.
(A) Attack Idoun's neck and head
(B) Attack the flank, aiming for her wound
(C) Go straight for the jaws (risks hitting Agni)
(D) Tactician: Order Syrene to shoot for the eyes
"Jessup!" you shout. "Your rescue staff!" As he fumbles for the right staff, you raise Armads. You spin around, slamming the flat of the axe into Idoun's side, right across her wound. As expected, she throws her head back and howls in pain. Agni is thrown into the air as she releases him, and a second later he is engulfed in golden light. When you look back, you see him laying beside Jessup.
Idoun looks confused for a moment, scanning the room for her lost prize. When she sees him all the way across the room, she roars in anger, before rearing back. You realize she's going to try a breath attack, and you try to get in front of her. She lowers her head, launching a stream of dark smoke straight toward him before you can block it. Syrene steps in the way, her bow at the ready. She is engulfed in the darkness. Before you even have time to worry about her, an arrow flies from the lingering smoke, striking Idoun in the throat. Syrene throws her bow to one side, pressing her advantage.
Idoun prepares to fire again, but you smash one of her legs with Armads, and she loses her balance. The dark flames go wide of their target, dissipating harmlessly across the floor. Cecil slashes at Idoun's neck, but his sword seems to bounce harmlessly off her scales. With a grunt of frustration, he switches to his axe, driving it low into Idoun's other front leg. With wounds on both her legs, Idoun staggers, lowering her head for a moment. Syrene takes advantage of her lowered neck to vault onto her back. She rips out a dagger and slashes across Idoun's wings. Her wings seem to be more vulnerable than the rest of her, and the knife easily penetrates deep into them.
Idoun roars in pain, rearing back to throw Syrene off. Syrene latches onto one of Idoun's bleeding wings, hanging on for dear life. You realize that Idoun's underbelly is completely exposed by the distraction. "The underbelly is the weakest point," a voice seems to call to you. As if by instinct, you swing Armads upwards, driving its giant head into Idoun's chest. She collapses downwards with a pathetic growl. As she begins to fade, Syrene falls through her, meeting the ground with a hard impact. She quickly recovers, running to her wounded husband.
A stone wall slides upwards at the far end of the chamber. Satisfied that Agni is still alive, you go to investigate while Jessup tends to his wounds. Inside, you find a small pedestal. On the pedestal rests a single, dark-bound tome. As you reach for it, you can feel a shiver running down your spine. You glance at the cover, then flip to a random page. It all looks like gibberish to you.
"Perhaps I should be the one to examine it," Mary asks as you wander back to the others. She gently takes the tome from your hands. She briefly studies the cover. "Its name is Goetia." she mutters, as she begins flipping through the pages. "This is extremely dangerous dark magic, related to summoning and controlling demons..."
"Demons!?" John asks. "This is a monstrosity! We should destroy this vile-"
"Destroy it!?" a voice asks in dismay. "You mustn't! This book has done nothing wrong!"
You turn. One of the shades has reappeared, the dark mage with the monocle. "The power to summon demons is not one that should exist in this world!" John yells with conviction.
Mary places a hand on his shoulder. "John... We aren't going to be using this tome to summon any demons. But if one's already escaped into this world, any knowledge it offers us may give us the edge we need to defeat it. That's why we came, isn't it?" John responds with silence.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Canus clears his throat. "Yes, well. I wanted to say that move you used was quite interesting. I dedicated my life to the study of dark magic, but never thought to study its interactions with light magic. I thank you for the chance to see it. I only wish I had thought to pursue it further, but my time here is nearing an end. Miss, if I may have a brief word with you, in private?"
Mary nods, following the shade a few feet away. As the shade disappears, she returns with a solemn look on her face. John looks at her questioningly. When he finally begins to ask, she interrupts him. "He warned me to stay true to the pursuit of knowledge, not the pursuit of power."
"Hmph. Dark magic..." John mumbles. "I'm sure given enough time, he would have become like that other one, Alvis. Evil, corrupt-"
"Stop, John. I knew I recognized his name, but it took me a moment to remember. He gave his life to save a village. Time and again, I've told you. Dark magic is not evil, it's what we choose to do with it." John does not respond. "Excuse me, I must begin studying this tome. There is much in here." She begins walking towards the exit as the stone door rumbles upward.
John and Mary gained the skill Antipode!
Antipode - small chance to trigger when John and Mary attack the same target. Deals heavy damage to one target and dazzles surrounding enemies.
Your group exits, Syrene and Jessup carrying Agni between them. You're greeted with worried expressions from everyone else. "We heard roaring..." Doran begins. "What happened in there?"
Paen makes a beeline for you. "Gods, Girly, what is that monstrosity strung across your back!?" Several of the others look questioningly at the giant axe on your back.
"Armads," you answer.
"Armads? One of the weapons used by the divine crusaders. The berserker's axe, I believe... But, why was it here?" Taika asks.
"I do not know," Agni answers. "But it was a miracle for it to have been. Without it, we may not be alive now."
"Why don't we take this discussion upstairs?" Doran asks. "It sounds like a lot happened in very little time, and we need to plan our next move. I'm sure Praven will be able to help, as well."
You swap stories with the other groups as you climb the stairs. When you reach the top, Praven greets you warmly. "Ah, it appears you were even more successful than I expected. I had no idea Armads was stored here. And that appears to be the holy sword Ragnell... How curious. Well, did you find something that will help you in your fight?"
You realize Mary has been silently trailing at the rear of your group, her nose buried in Goetia. "Yes..." she mutters. "Perhaps. There are a several demons listed in here, and a few are mentioned as having control over the dead. I'll keep going through everything, maybe I can find some more clues and narrow it down..."
"If we can determine what demon we're fighting, we'll gain a significant advantage," Doran says cheerfully. "Well then, Master Praven, do you have the Fire Emblem?"
Praven nods as he takes a small, golden shield from inside his robe. He hands it to Doran, who quickly passes it to Rain. "Keep it safe, Rain. It is your birthright."
Rain looks like she may protest, but Holland grips her free hand. She looks him in the eye, then nods solemnly. She fastens the emblem onto her arm.
"Well then," Doran continues. "Our next move should be to return to Sal-Aldin, then head back to Valeria to recover Falchion."
"Yes," you agree. "Unless anyone has any objections?"
Paen opens his mouth to speak, then turns and whispers something to Claudia. She looks thoughtful for a moment, then shakes her head. Paen shrugs, then says nothing further.
(A) Ask what they were talking about
(B) Let it go
"King Paen? Something you want to tell us?" you ask, trying not to draw any more attention.
"Hm? Oh, I was just asking Claudia to marry me," he answers.
"Very funny. What were you really asking her about?"
"Oh, you caught me. I was asking her permission to marry you," he answers with a heavily faked sigh.
(A) Play along
(B) Press the issue
(C) Ask later in private
(D) Let it go
Well, if that's how he wants to play it. "Oh, King Paen..." you begin, using your best small-town girl accent. "That would make me a queen. I'm just some farm girl from Valeria, I don't know nothing 'bout rulin' no countries. Think about what the people would say!"
"Bah!" he answers. "The people will love you. And since when do I care what the lordlings say? They'll respect their king's decisions, even if I have to smash some sense into them. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and you can handle yourself in a fight. Plus, you're pretty cute."
"Very funny, bu-"
"Who's joking?" he asks, stepping closer. "I may not have a ring, and I can't exactly take a knee with this giant gaping hole in my chest, but I am serious."
You nervously take a step back as he reaches you. He grabs your hand. With your open-handed greaves, you can feel his rough palm in yours as he clasps your hand to his chest. You can feel your heart pounding in your chest. Is he really serious? Or just messing with me?
"Why do you hesitate?" he asks. "Do you not wish to marry me? Is it because I'm a little older than you? Because you shouldn't worry about that, I age a bit slower than most. Or perhaps it's because you're leading the coalition force, worried that it might make you seem a bit biased? We can wait until after this war is done."
"I... I barely know you! I met you less than a month ago! How can you decide on something this important that fast!?"
"If I know what I want, why hesitate? I understand if you would rather wait, but I would have your answer, June."
(A) Accept
(B) Decline
(C) Wait to decide later
"King Paen..." you begin. You gently pull your hand free, and he releases it. "I... That is, you're... I mean, I certainly don't dislike you, but... That's a huge decision! The choice to spend your life devoted to only one person, body and soul! Not some choice that should be made flippantly in the middle of-"
"Alright, alright! Breath, Girly, breath! No need to tell me right away, I'll give you a few days to think on it. Just let me know before too long."
"If you two are quite finished, I'd like to continue our meeting," Doran says stoically. You are suddenly painfully aware of the dozens of eyes staring at you. "We were discussing where to go from here. As I was saying, if no one has an objection, we'll go grab Jayce and Cynbel, head to Sal-Aldin, then make for Antea."
"No objections here," Paen retorts.
"Er... No, that sounds like a good plan," you add, trying to hide your embarrassment.
"Well then," Praven begins, "you should set out shortly after dinner. I have a feeling you will meet someone who may help you on your travels. It will be a full moon tonight, so travel should be easy."
"Are you coming with us, Master?" Taika asks.
"No, my place is here, guarding the school."
"Master, with all due respect, you said several of our students have been killed, did you not?" Agni begins.
"Unfortunately so."
"Which makes up the school? The building, or the students? If it is your duty to guard your school, would you not be better served defending your students?"
Praven says nothing for several moments. "Very well, then. I will come with you. Lead the way... Sage Agni." Agni smiles widely.
New character!
Praven
Class: Archsage
Skills: Lifetaker, Rally magic, Flare, Tomefaire, Healtouch, Shade
HP: ********
Str: ****
Mag: **********
Skill: **********
Speed: *******
Def: *****
Res: *********
Luck: *******
Equipment: Aura, arcwind, physic, vulnerary
End of chapter 16/16X