Chapter 17: Winds of Change
After a simple meal of water and vegetables, your group sets out into the desert. The moon is barely rising above the horizon, and the air is still warm. The western sky still has a slight pink hue. Praven leads the way. "I know a smaller road not marked on your map. One used by our school. It should intersect the road you came on a bit ahead of that village."
After only a few moments of trudging through the sand, Marth seems to find better footing. When you examine the ground, you see a narrow trail of worn wooden planks that blend into the sand. Praven marches at the head of the column, surprisingly spry for a man his age.
The moon is high in the sky when Claudia swoops down on her wyvern. "Hey, there's something going on towards the west!"
"What?" Doran asks.
Praven scans the horizon. "Oh, dear... Miss, is the air much warmer up there?"
Claudia looks confused for a moment. "Well, somewhat, I suppose."
A look of realization washes across Agni's face. "Oh, this is very, very bad."
"What's going on?" you ask.
"Sandstorm," Taika answers. "Basically a giant wall of wind and sand. They range from slightly annoying to deadly. Claudia, give me a lift so I can get a better view, if you will." Claudia helps Taika up, and flies into the air.
"Just in case... Prepare for fast march, everyone!" Doran calls.
A few seconds later, Taika lands a bit ahead of your group. "It's definitely a storm, and it's big. I've never seen one appear at night, certainly none this large!"
Doran looks hesitant. "It's to the west, right? We're heading southwest, can we outrun it?"
"I'm not sure, but... Maybe," Taika answers. "At this speed, it'll be close."
"Is there any other option?" Saul asks.
Dan surprises you with his answer. "There's a rocky outcrop a good ways off the trail, to the east. Looks like it'll be big enough to provide some cover, if nothing else. I think we'll all fit."
"Can we make it in time?" you ask.
"Even with the desert slowing us down, we should have plenty of time."
"How bad does the storm look? Any chance we can just dig in and wait it out?" Paen suggests.
Taika and Claudia share a hesitant glance. "It's not the worst storm I've seen," Taika finally answers. "We can dig into the ground for a bit of shelter, but it could still do some damage, especially to our animals and supply convoy."
(A) Continue on the path at full speed
(B) Head for the outcrop
(C) Dig in
(D) Let someone else decide (choose among Agni/Taika/Praven/Paen/Saul/Rain/Doran)
When you look to the east, you can make out the rocks Dan mentioned in the distance. They don't look too far away, even if they are surrounded by desert. "This way! Hurry! Fliers, grab the slower troops and give them a hand!"
You set out for the rocks as quickly as possible. Marth slows you down, but you still make decent time. Anna's wagon is having extreme difficulty moving, but she manage to keep it moving forward. By the time the storm is bearing down on you, the rocks are only a short dash away. Several of your units ferried by your fliers have already arrived, and are waving you towards one particularly large rock. As you circle around it, you find a large alcove with most of your horses and wyverns already in cover. A cave extends deeper into the rock, curving sharply downward. You aren't surprised to learn that Paen simply jumped in to check it out after Claudia dropped him off.
Most of you team has already followed him down. You stay behind to make sure the last few riders make it safely. As Anna drives her cart around the edge of the rock, a large gust of wind whistles through the outcrop. "That was a bit closer than I'd have liked," she admits. "But we made it. Where is everyone?"
"They went into that cave," you answer.
"Cave? That's not a cave. That's a hole." Anna says worriedly. "I'd rather stay out here and keep the horses company... Well, if you guys are still alive in a few hours, send someone out to swap places with me." With a wave, she starts going through her inventory. With a shrug, you step into the cave.
To your surprise, it really is more of a hole, like Anna said. After a few feet, it curves straight downwards. For a moment, you wonder where everyone went, until you notice a ladder jutting out of the ground. Hearing the rest of your group ahead, you begin to descend.
At the bottom of the shaft, you find everyone spreading out. Some are setting up sleeping rolls, others are preparing simple meals. Doran approaches you. "June, Praven says the storm's probably going to last a good while, so we're setting camp here until tomorrow evening."
You nod. "Good idea."
You look around the area. The walls are carved stone, very obviously man-made, but in a state of disrepair. A few fallen pillars line the area. You notice a pair of chests, but they're already empty.
"Are you sure we're alone in here?" you ask Doran.
"As far as we can tell, this place seems to have been abandoned for years. I sent some people to scout the area. There's only one path further in, but the scouts say it leads to a very large antechamber with a bunch of branching tunnels... Well, I'd rather not risk any scouts getting lost. Better to just set out a night watch and have everyone sleep with their weapons, right?"
"Could we just sit in the alcove instead?"
"Well, there's not enough room for everyone. We can still shelter our troops from the wind well enough, but we'll have to wait out tomorrow's sun without as much shade."
(A) Agree, set out a watch
(B) Disagree, send out scouts (choose up to 5)
(C) Disagree, GTFO
Choose 10.
June/Wendy B
June/Syrene C
June/Agni C
June/Dan B
June/Jayce C
June/Walt A
June/Jayce C
June/Holland C
June/Mary B
June/Fumiko B
June/Doran C
June/Rosalin C
Rain/Dan A
Rain/Paen C
Rain/Doran B
Rain/Rosalin C
Bud/Taika C
Bud/Syrene B
Haley/Agni B
Haley/Holland C
Haley/John C
Haley/Mary C
Haley/Charon C
Haley/Wendy X: Small-town retirement
Aside: X supports were added as an additional way to change character endings
Wendy/Agni B
Wendy/Dan B
Wendy/Jayce C
Wendy/Fumiko C
Ferris/Taika C
Ferris/Mary C
Ferris/Cynbel C
Ferris/Claudia C
Alyssa/Syrene A
Alyssa/Agni C
Alyssa/Holland C
Alyssa/Charon C
Jessup/Agni C
Jessup/Jayce C
Jessup/Mary C
Jessup/Rosalin C
Syrene/Charon C
Agni/Dan C
Agni/Jayce C
Agni/Praven A
Dan/Holland B
Dan/Taika C
Dan/Claudia A
Dan/Rosalin C
Walt/Holland C
Walt/Taika B
Jayce/Taika C
Jayce/Mary C
Jayce/Cynbel C
Jayce/Rosalin C
Holland/Fumiko C
Holland/Claudia C
Holland/Saul C
John/Taika C
John/Paen C
John/Saul C
Taika/Charon C
Taika/Praven A
Mary/Cynbel C
Mary/Paen C
Mary/Doran C
Mary/Cecil C
Fumiko/Charon C
Fumiko/Paen C
Fumiko/Doran C
Fumiko/Rosalin C
Charon/Cynbel C
Charon/Claudia C
Charon/Doran C
Charon/Rosalin C
Paen/Claudia C
Paen/Rosalin C
Claudia/Doran C
Saul/Rosalin C
Saul/Praven C
Doran/Rosalin C
Rosalin/Cecil C
"Haley?" Wendy asks. "Have you decided what you're going to do once all this is over?"
"Hm... Well, I was thinking of asking the archbishop if he could pull some strings to keep Ferris on as a permanent Holy Knight mercenary type of thing. You think he would do that? He seems really nice."
"I'm sure he would, but..."
"Is something wrong? Oh, you wanted me to ask what you were doing! OK, then. Wendy, what are you and Bud doing later?"
"Well, Bud's been talking about rebuilding Hearthstone. I think he's got his heart set on it, really; moving back in to his old home and reopening the farm. But, I can't just leave the Holy Knights, can I?"
"Why not?" Haley asks, cocking her head.
"Because! ...I can't just renounce my oath, you know. What's the point of oaths if people just break them left and right?"
"Life on a farm, hm? I bet you'd really enjoy that. And to just abandon your husband? Well, I suppose if you got a permanent assignment to Trine, it's only a three hour trip every day." Haley switches her head, cocking it to the other shoulder. "Hmm..."
"Haley? What's that look? I know that look, Haley. What are you plotting?"
"Oh, nothing," Haley says flittingly. "I've got to go, I'll talk with you later."
"Haley! Come back here, Ha-" Wendy calls after her, before tripping over a poorly-placed sleep roll.
Haley bounds off, slowing to a stop when she's put most of the camp between her and her pursuer. Before she can seek out her husband, she notices a shadowy figure sitting in the corner.
"Hey, Mary, what are you doing all on your lonesome?"
"I'm reading the tome we found in that underground vault. The one a dragon almost ate us over?"
"Aw, don't be such a Grumpy Gus. That book'll still be there in the morning! Or afternoon. I'm kind of losing track of time with all the spelunking we've been doing lately."
"I'm not grumpy, and my name's not Gus. This book could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Doran entrusted it to me, and I can't let him down."
"Aw, don't you think he'd be disappointed if he knew you were letting it get in the way of you making friends? I mean, part of the reason you joined up with us was to meet new people, right? How are you going to do that with your nose in a tome all the time?" Haley continues her assault, not letting up long enough for Mary to respond. "Oh, I know! Why don't you come take a ride on Fare?"
"We can't exactly fly around with this sandstorm raging..." Mary points out.
"Oh... Well, raincheck. Er, sandcheck. If you want to experience new things, you definitely have to add flying to the list! The wind in your hair, the feeling of-"
"Alright, alright. I'll go with you sometime. Just promise you'll take it nice and easily, no showing off or anything. Fair enough?"
"OK, deal! I'll hold you to it!"
"So, Gloomy, found anything useful yet?" a deep voice asks. King Paen clanks up to Mary, crouching down beside her.
"I would be doing much better without you standing in my light, or the constant stream of people coming to interrupt me."
"Is that any way to speak to your king? Even if you live in Sefa Forest, you're still in Carcinan borders."
"You are not my king. My village was destroyed under your father's protection-"
"You would judge me for my father's failures?"
"I would. More than that, my adoptive mother was treated as a slave in your country, under your rule." Paen's smile quickly fades into a full frown. "Don't pretend you didn't know it was going on, the laguz slaving."
Paen remains silent for several minutes. "I knew that some of the nobles were keep mysterious... pets. Every time I tried to investigate, the animals would mysteriously disappear. Do not presume to speak to me as if I did noth-"
"Save it. Whether or not you tried, you failed. I will not forgive you just because you put forth some token effort." Paen begins several sentences, ending them all abruptly. Finally, he sighs and begins to walk away. "I'm about a quarter of the way through. It's taking me a while to translate this script, and riding on a bouncing wagon didn't help. I'm picking up the pace now that I can sit and see it clearly. Let Doran or June know, please." With that Mary, no longer acknowledges his presence.
Walt is setting up his sleeping roll as Taika sneaks up on him. "So, how's my favorite Holy Knight?" Walt stops for a moment to look over his shoulder.
"Oh, it's you again. Here to tease me some more?"
"Well, I was thinking about it, but that right there took all the fun out of it."
"Well, that's for the best," Walt says, finishing his task. "So, what were you really wanting to talk about?"
"Oh, I was just going to ask if you minded if I slept over here tonight. It would make me feel so much safer having a big, strong knight in case anything happened."
"Oh, hang on. Give me a minute," Walt says, holding a finger up for quiet. "OK, um... Ah, I've got it! Only if you'll help me pitch my tent."
Taika stares at him in stunned silence for several seconds, before turning away.
"No, milady, I'm sorry, I meant no offense, I was just... Ah, pretend I never said that! I shouldn't have been joking with a lady like that..." He notices her shoulders are twitching. "Er... Lady Taika? Are you alright?"
She turns back around, obviously trying to hide her laughter. "Snrk...! I'm sorry, it's just... Oh, gods. You shouldn't make jokes like that. It sounds so horrible coming out of your mouth." After she takes a few seconds to calm herself. "Ah-ha... But in all seriousness, I was going to ask to trade shifts with you for night watch."
"Ah, of course. That's perfectly acceptable. Just... In return, promise you won't tell anyone I said that."
"Oh, that's no fun. Well, fair enough, I suppose." With that, Taika excuses herself with a flippant wave.
"Your eyes are like two black pools of... tar," Dan says, hesitantly.
Claudia bows her head. "That was atrocious. If you actually spoke to a woman like that, she'd either run, or stab you in the stomach."
"I don't see why you're so obsessed with this," Dan answers in annoyance. "I was fine with the general etiquette lessons, but why do I have to practice complimenting people?"
"Because, you've got potential. You're a diamond in the rough, so to speak. A knight should be able to hold his own both on the battlefield and in court. And a large part of dealing in the court is kissing people's a-"
"I don't see what flirting has to do with that."
"It's good practice! If you can keep a clear head dealing with a beautiful lady such as myself" - Dan snorts, and Claudia gives him a piercing glare - "you can deal with the royal pains you'll meet as a knight. Besides, aren't knights supposed to be all heroic and romantic?"
"Maybe the knights of lore, but us real knights are more concerned about not getting killed in combat. How'd you get so good at this, anyway?"
"King Paen trained me personally. Well, he was still a prince back then, but he convinced the royal family to take me in, and raise me like one of their own. He never has told me why he took such a risk on some beggar girl, but... Why am I telling you all this?"
Dan shrugs. "No clue. But now that you mention it, I really don't know much about you, aside from the rumors that go around."
"What rumors?"
Dan shrugs again. "Things that the common soldiers tell each other. Most people call you the King's violent little shadow."
"Oh, do they, now?" Claudia laughs lightly. "Not the worst nickname. Well, speaking of nicknames, let's get back to it."
"So, Ali, you and Jessup are finally together, hm?" Syrene asks teasingly. "Took you long enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alyssa responds haughtily.
"Oh, come on! Even when we were kids, I saw the way the two of you looked at each other. I mean, you and I were close friends, but you and Jessup were... um... I don't know that there even is a word for it. Inseparable, maybe?"
"Was it that obvious that I had a crush on him?"
"Yes, and it was just as obvious how he felt about you. I can't believe it took you that long to figure it out."
"I... actually thought he had a crush on you..." Alyssa admits.
"Really? Oh, Ali... You're normally so... great at reading people! How could you have been so oblovo-... oblivious?"
"So... To be clear, did he?"
"No... Well, maybe a little one, but never anything like what he had for you. It was always going to be you."
"Hey, Rain," Doran begins, finally managing to catch her by herself. "I never had a chance to really congratulate you."
"Oh, Doran! Thank you so much."
"I'm sure the two of you will be really happy together. You and Holland have always gotten along so well. Remember back in training, that time he painted the back of the commander's armor, and you didn't say anything to her while you were helping her put it on?"
"Oh, yes. I got in so much trouble that day. If Holland hadn't confessed, I might have been kicked out..."
"And now we're the ones who will be training the next generation of knights. My, how times have changed..."
"Speaking of change, Doran..." Rain's voice takes a harsh turn. "Why did you never tell me you saw my brand?"
"There's a lot I never told you..." Doran mutters. "Er, I figured that if you were going to the extremes of changing by yourself, that you wanted to hide it."
"So, you admit that you were in the women's-"
"I was lost! Really, I thought it was the armory!"
"You? Lost?" Fumiko joins the group. "I can't imagine how that could happen," she says sarcastically.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"With how disorganized you are, it's a wonder you're able to find anything in that coat of yours, much less find your way around."
"Those two things are completely unrelated," Doran counters. "I know exactly where everything I own is. And my sense of direction's improved significantly since I was young."
"I notice you always stop to consult maps and compasses when we're travelling."
"So, maybe it's not that my direction improved so much as I learned how to cope," he says with a shrug. "Either way, it works. I mean, which is better, to be naturally good at something, or, through effort, become good?"
Fumiko sniffs slightly. "That almost sounds like something Vine would have said..."
"Oh... Oh! I'm sorry, Fumiko. I didn't mean to... um..."
"Ah, it's not your fault. Just promise me that we'll win, that we'll stop whatever's summoning these Risen, that he didn't die in vain."
"We will," Doran says confidently.
"Definitely," Rain adds, putting her arm around Fumiko's shoulder.
"That's quite an impressive axe you've got there," Cecil says, lifting Garm into the air and giving it a few swings. "You could cleave quite a few skulls with this, methinks."
"Can and have," Rosalin replies with a wink. "Not much better than that there. It's called Garm, after that ol' legendary mutt."
"This is Garm, huh? How'd you wind up with a legendary axe?"
Rosalin laughs. "I may not be much anymore, but I used to be one o' the most feared pirates of the Golden Sea!"
"Wait, you're... Rosalin... You aren't Blood-stained Rose, are you?"
"Aye, I might've been called that, years and years ago."
"I've heard quite a few stories about you. But all of a sudden, it's like you just vanished."
"Well, that'd be because me crew mutinied, tried to kill me. Complained I was lettin' too many of our captives leave alive. I ain't much for needless bloodshed, but some of our crew disagreed. They thought they'd succeeded, too, but a few of me loyal boys kept me alive. Since then, I'd been keepin' me head down."
"Fascinating..." Cecil says, starry-eyed. "I'd love to hear more sometime."
"Aye, I've got plenty o' tales for passin' the hours," Rosalin boasts. "I think we're sharin' a watch shift, yeah? I'll spin ya a good yarn later."
The night ends, becoming morning. In the gloom of the cave, with only your torches and a small circle of light, it still feels like night. Your exhausted troops are scattered about, sleeping. Only you, Fumiko, and Syrene remain awake, standing guard.
"What's wrong, Fumiko?" you ask. You'd noticed her sitting off by herself. She usually flits around, chatting with people. To see her completely alone is a rarity. When you noticed her tail hanging limp and ears lowered, you knew something was wrong.
She turns as you approach. "Oh, hello June. I was just thinking about my dearly departed husband."
"Oh, Fumiko... I'm so sorry. If I hadn't ordered him to-"
"Don't do that to yourself, Sweetie. He was a warrior to the end. He would have hated for you to command him to hide in the rear while others risked their lives fighting." She sighs. "Such a fool... But a noble fool. My fool."
"You said he rescued you from slavers, did you not?"
"Yes, I did. He was always doing things like that. Rescuing travelers from bandits, destroying monsters so they couldn't attack nearby towns..."
"Why did he do all this?" you ask.
Fumiko shrugs. "For all the years I knew him, I never understood. Any time I asked, he would try to explain, but he could never..." She looks into the distance. "He explained it as 'someone has to,' but when I asked why that was, he would look at me, or at Mary. I suppose-"
She stops, ears perking to attention. "Is something wrong?" you ask.
"I thought I heard something."
"Like what?" you ask, raising your torch to peer into the darkness of the tunnel. Syrene comes to join you, curiosity painted on her face.
"I'm... not sure. I think it came from that central chamber..." She leaps to her feet. "I smell something. Something... bad. I can't explain it, it's just... wrong." You aren't sure, but you think you can make out some subtle movement, just outside the torch's light. You took your plate armor off earlier, and left armads with it. You still have your leather armor and hatchet. Fumiko and Syrene are fully armed and ready.
(A) Investigate together (June/Syrene/Fumiko)
(B) Send one scout out, have the others on standby (June/Fumiko)
(C) Start waking the others, quietly
(D) Shout for everyone to wake up
You decide you should go to investigate, but you want back-up ready. "Syrene, start waking people up. Subtly, if possible. Fumiko, lead the way." Syrene acknowledges your orders with a curt nod, and Fumiko removes the kerchief from her ears.
As you advance, you can't shake the feeling that something is with you, just outside of your sight. Fumiko is constantly squinting and sniffing, her ears alert. "Something's... not right. I'm feeling a bit strange, it's almost like... I can't explain it, June. I know something's there, but I just can't quite make it out." You notice her whispering is interspersed with stutters and strange enunciation. Her tail has slipped out from under her dress and her hair is completely on end.
Finally, the narrow path opens into an antechamber, as large as a moderately-sized fort. As Doran mentioned, you can vaguely make out other openings to side caves: one to the left, and two to the right. As you raise your torch high and peer into the darkness, Fumiko suddenly groans, clutching her head. "June... Something's... very wrong here..."
"Wrong? There's nothing wrong here. Just a perfectly natural experiment," a voice calls from the darkness. A torch springs to life in the center of the chamber, revealing a lone man. His white hair and suit are a stark contrast to the dark cave.
"Who are you?" you ask.
"My, but isn't it polite to introduce yourself before asking someone their name? Especially when you barge in on them unannounced."
You hesitate for a moment. "I am June. I apologize, we were seeking shelter from the storm and thought these caves were empty."
The man seems to perk up significantly, excitedly strolling over to you. "Ah, that's much better. I am Dr. Hyde. A pleasure to meet you, truly," he extends his hand politely. You notice Fumiko baring her fangs and recoiling slightly. "Ah, and who is your lovely friend here? A member of the fox tribe, if I'm not mistaken. Magnificent, I'm sure she will provide excellent data." He punctuates the last statement with an excited clap.
"Er... Data?" you ask. "I'm not sure I follow you... Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I could explain to you about my group's motivations and goals, prattle on for hours, really. But in a few moments, it's not going to matter to you. All you need to know is that I'm testing out a new toy. A powder that makes people go insane, but loyal to one master - though it seems to have a more pronounced effect on laguz, to the point of locking them into their shifted forms. It has quite a bit of potential, but I needed to test the effect on humans before using it in my world."
"What... what kind of... ungh..." Fumiko is clearly beginning to struggle. You offer her an arm as she loses her balance, but she rights herself.
"I truly can't believe my luck. First that fool of a dragon plays right into my hands, then... Well, I'd rather not mention our last fight. But ever since I popped over to this world, everything's turning up Jeckel." With an ominous cackle, he raises a hand into the air. "Your friends will provide plenty of information about the powder's effects. I think I'll test out how it affects the subject's combat abilities with you." Nine wolves appear in the torchlight behind... whoever this insane person is. As you reach for your hatchet, your vision flashes red, just for a moment. You look to Fumiko. She seems to be barely holding herself together, a pained expression washing across her face as she readies her tome.
Victory: Defeat Jeckel or Eliminate all feral laguz or all units escape.
Defeat: Allied units wiped out.
-Special conditions-
Berserk gas - Each round has an increasing chance to inflict the berserk for 1 round. Unit's odds to resist are based on resistance, luck, and number of supported units nearby. The gas will dissipate quickly once Jeckel is defeated.
Escape route - If you choose a strategy that causes you to run from this battle, each round your three weakest/most vulnerable units will escape up the ladder to the surface, starting when June gives the order to retreat. Once on the surface, units will be safe from the gas' effect, but unable to continue helping in combat.
-Boss information-
Jeckel/Hyde
Class: Alchemist (unique)
HP: 18
Str: 8
Mag: 17
Skill: 14
Spd: 13
Luck: 18
Def: 13
Res: 33
Skills: Flare, Teleport (chance to automatically nullify all incoming damage and change range)
Special weapon: Stonehenge
(A) Blitz Jeckel
(B) Stand your ground with Fumiko while calling for reinforcements
(C) Guard the tunnel entrance while Fumiko retreats
(D) Grab Fumiko and run
"Fumiko, can you run?"
"Y-Yes, I think so..."
"I'll buy you some time to escape," you say, moving slowly for the exit. The wolves respond by baring their fangs and slowly approaching.
"Make a break for it on my signal..." you whisper. Jeckel eyes you curiously, a sneer plastered on his face. "And tell everyone..."
What's you strategy here?
(A) Have you main army meet you while you hold off the wolves (low-res units retreat)
(B) Fight the wolves long enough for Fumiko to warn everyone, then retreat and fight at the tunnel entrance
(C) Fight the wolves as long as possible while people begin escaping
By the way, make a list of anyone you want to keep out of the fight. Once they retreat, they can't come back, but they're safe from the gas. Not sure how I'll handle the voting on this bit, so hopefully, there'll be a consensus.
"Tell anyone with low resistance to get out - Dan, Charon, Rosalin. And tell everyone else to hurry back! And bring Armads!"
Fumiko nods at you groggily, then takes off running. You ready your axe. Hyde smiles. "Oh, going to stand and fight, are you? Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to be hunted down? Well, this is actually preferable, I suppose."
The wolves snarl as they begin to close around you. You put the cave entrance behind you, vowing none shall pass. One of the wolves bumps into another, and it answers by snapping at its brother. The two get into a short battle with each other. As fast as it started, it ends, and they turn their attention back to you. Hyde sighs in the background. "That's the problem, so far... The powder makes everyone act insane, and they obey for the most part, but they occasionally snap and turn on their allies. Not exactly ideal, but that's what testing is for, isn't it? Perhaps if I add some mandrake root to enhance the hallucinogenic effects... Ah, but listen to me prattle on. I should let you get back to being torn to shreds."
Doing your best to ignore the stream of taunts and insults coming from this insane doctor's mouth, you weave in between a pair of wolves as they lunge, managing to nick one's flank with your hatchet. A third pounces on you from the side, but you manage to throw it off before it can pin you completely. Four of them are fighting amongst themselves, while the last two seem to be contemplating how to attack. As one wolf comes about and leaps again, you mange to throw your axe as you dodge and hit the unprepared wolf behind it. The wolf recoils in pain, but leaps back into the fray quickly enough. As your axe appears back in your hand, you raise it just in time to catch a wolf's bite. While you grapple with one, another slashes across your exposed back with its claws. Your leather armor does nothing against its razor-sharp claws.
You feel yourself growing more desperate. I just have to stay alive a little longer... Fumiko's got to have made it back by now, and since Syrene was getting everyone ready... Another wolf feints high, then comes in low and grabs your ankle. It shakes its head violently, and you are ripped off your feet. As it continues to rip and tear, you can feel its teeth tearing through your leather boots. A second wolf lunges at your neck. You drop your axe to catch its jaws in your hands, holding it mere inches from your throat. You can feel your rage building. With a roar, you twist the wolf's neck, and send it crashing into the wolf on your leg. You can feel the impact run up your leg, hear a snap as it flies off. As you struggle to regain your feet before the other wolves can encircle you, your leg gives out beneath you.
Not here... Not...now! You force yourself to your feet, vaguely aware of the mad cackling and clapping resonating throughout the chamber, and completely unaware of the pain in your broken ankle. You dash forward, slamming your axe into one wolf, and another, and another, no longer thinking about form, technique, or accuracy. All you care about is dealing damage. The wolves are whirling around you, attacking you. Attacking each other. You lose track of how many you hit, how many are injured, your own injuries. More wolves than before? You aren't sure. Suddenly, you feel disoriented, bright light. Wolves look... different. Human. Can't control. Slam axe into one. Axe taken away.
The last thing you remember before passing out is a dark-gloved fist flying at your face.
Choose a new perspective.
(A) Doran
(B) Rain
(C) Saul
(D) Claudia
You are now Rain.
"Claudia!"
June falls to the ground, bloody and obviously horribly injured. She'd swung at Paen, and Claudia had lept in the way. Then punched her in the face.
"Don't worry," she answers while rubbing her fist. "She'll be fine in a few hours."
"Was that really necessary? She was clearly not in her right mind..."
"That's the second time she's turned her axe on my king. Next time, I won't let her off that easily. Besides, looks like she needed a rest."
"It's fine," Doran says. "We didn't have time to deal with her ankle, so this works out pretty well." You hadn't noticed that her leg was torn and bloody before Doran pointed it out. Still, you feel pretty bad...
You feel a familiar pat on the shoulder, and a familiar bristling against your ear. "I'm sure she's fine, Sweetie. We've got bigger things to worry about." Holland points to several wolves coming down the tunnel.
"Rain, you've got the most tactical experience here. Take command," Doran orders.
Fumiko whines beside you. "Don't forget about that powder... It's not as thick in this tunnel, but I can feel it spreading... It's getting worse. If we don't hurry, we're all going to... ungh... end up like June...!"
Wolves in the tunnel: 10
Enemies in the antechamber (visible): 2 wolves, Hyde
(A) Take a defensive stance, let them come to you
(B) Push forward through the tunnel to end things more quickly
(C) Try to cut your way to Hyde
(D) Forget fighting and retreat
"We aren't going to last long in this gas," Doran mutters.
"Then we take to end this quickly! Holland, on me. Ferris, Haley, Cecil, Fumiko, King Paen, Claudia, we're taking point. Everyone else, watch out backs, and stay safe!"
Drawing your rapier, you lead the charge forward. The sound of heavy armor plates crashing behind you signals that your betrothed is right behind you. Your team crashes headfirst into the charging wolves, shoving several back. A pair run past you, but you slash a third across the face as it leaps for you. Holland joins you with a thrust of his spear, forcing it to retreat.
Of the other charging wolves, seven are stopped by your vanguard. You follow up, chasing the one you've injured and dispatching it with a lunge. A second one latches onto Holland's arm. He yells in rage, attempting to throw it off. Before you can help, Haley frees him with a slash of her blade. Two of the wolves are distracted when they bump each other, fighting each other long enough for Fumiko to burn them with her magic. Cecil finishes one with his claymore, but quickly turns on your own group. With an enraged roar, he hurls a tomohawk at you. Holland steps in the way, the axe cluttering uselessly off his armor.
"Ungh... Sorry!" Cecil yells. In his distraction, the second wolf tackles him from behind. Before it can bite into him, Fumiko transforms and slams into it from the side. The two go rolling in a ball of fur and teeth. Your main group rips the two apart and barrages the wolf.
You realize that while you were watching Fumiko, Claudia and Paen had hacked through another two wolves, while Ferris and Haley managed to defeat one. Ferris has a large claw mark running across his chest, but Haley's managed to stop the bleeding. The remaining four wolves retreat to the antechamber, joining with another four underneath the torch. They form a wall around the man in the white suit.
As you enter the chamber, you take stock of the situation. "I don't see any more..." Alyssa announces.
"Me neither," Walt adds. "Looks like it's just those ones with that guy."
"If the wolves aren't attacking him... I don't know who you are, but I assume you're an enemy?" Doran asks him.
Hyde shrugs. "I am a man of science, and you are my test subjects. If I considered you enemies, I would annihilate you all." With that, he takes a pouch from his pocket, and throws it into the air. A fine, red powder pours from it, and you can feel the air becoming heavier. The room flashes red for a moment. You tighten your grip on your blade, but relax when Holland places a hand on your shoulder. "Well then, shall we continue this experiment? This new formula should offer me a bit more control."
He snaps his fingers, and the wolves form a tight circle around him. You notice Fumiko starting to walk towards him, still transformed, as if in a daze. "M-Mother! What are you doing!?" Mary calls. Fumiko turns at the sound of her voice, then stops between your two groups. She seems to be struggling against some unseen force.
(A) Charge, focus on the wolves
(B) Charge, focus on Hyde
(C) Charge, attack both
(D) Stand your ground and try to lure the enemies in
(1) Ignore Fumiko, try to avoid her if she attacks
(2) Let Mary try to convince her
(3) Restrain her while she's distracted (Claudia/Paen)
(4) Order her to retreat (can choose another option)
While Fumiko hesitates, you signal to Paen with a grasping and pointing motion. He responds to a nod, then subtly gestures to Claudia to follow. He creeps towards Fumiko, with Claudia close at his heels. As soon as Fumiko's attention snaps towards him, he sprints forward. A fireball appears over her head, and hurtles at Paen. He charges through it.
Fumiko leaps to avoid him, but he darts to the side as well. Claudia bursts out from behind him, catching her completely by surprise.
Your heart skips a beat when you see the axe in her hand, hear her scream. She swings at Fumiko, delivering a deep slash to her flank. Before you can react, Paen grabs Fumiko by the scruff of the neck with one hand, and hurls Claudia away with the other. She stands as if waking from a dream. At the same time, Hyde catches your attention.
With a disdainful wave of his arm, he signals the wolves to charge. Paen, clutching Fumiko protectively, stands his ground. Claudia leaps to her feet beside him.
You estimate the wolves' speed and the distance to Paen. If you made a break for it, you could probably get to him just before the pack. You wonder if Paen could make it back to the main group while carrying Fumiko... You notice a few members of your party fighting amongst themselves, but your healers seem all but immune; they are easily patching up any wounds.
(A) Send everyone to countercharge the wolves
(B) Send the vanguard to cover Paen's retreat
(C) Send the vanguard to attack the wolves while the main group protects Paen
(D) Hold positions
(1) Order Paen to fall back (to the main group)
(2) Order Paen to retreat (to outside)
(3) Order Claudia to fall back
(4) Order Claudia to retreat
You point your blade forward. "Charge!" you scream, as you take point. As you run, you start adding more detailed orders. "Claudia, get Fumiko out of here! Saul, back Paen up! Vanguard, on point! Everyone else, defensive positions around the king!"
"DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!?" Paen calls back. "I NEED NO PROTECTION!" He hurls Fumiko into Claudia's arms, then charges forward. This fool will be the death of me...
Paen tackles the lead wolf, roaring like a madman. Why isn't he using his weapons!? You realize he's gone berserk in time to warn the others to give him a wide berth - fortunately, he seems too preoccupied with the wolves to attack anyone else.
Claudia hesitates as you pass her, barely able to hold the barely conscious fox slung over her shoulder. "I gave you a direct order! Get out of here!" Claudia glares at you, then looks worriedly at her king. You worry she may try something foolish for a moment, but she turns and begins struggling towards the exit.
Ferris hurls a bolt of blue energy into the wolf pack, while Holland lunges at one with his lance. The beast leaps back to avoid it, then lunges at him. He quickly dashes forward and slams his shoulder into the wolf, sending it reeling. You leap onto it before it can stand, finishing it with a quick stab through the heart.
Another wolf slashes across your armor as you disengage your blade. You step back, dazed, then turn to face your attacker. Your opponent, a large, black wolf, steps back to consider you carefully as he looks for an opening. You strike first, hurling your blade into the air. "For Valeria!"" you shout, leaping to catch it. As you bring the blade down towards the wolf, he leaps back, exposing his chest to your follow-up rising slash. You roll backwards, feeling the wound on your chest healing quickly. Your opponent, on the other hand, falls to his side with one last pathetic howl.
You turn in time to see Taika launch two bolts of lightning in impossibly rapid succession as Walt faces off against one of the wolves. Bud holds Wendy back as she yells at another - Haley and Ferris step in to fight the wolf while Bud helps her recover. John and Jessup heal Paen as they help him disengage from the wolf he was wrestling. Agni summons a giant wall of flames and rocks, eliminating another. You notice Mary abandoned her post to help Claudia carry Fumiko out, not that you can blame her. Only two wolves survive your initial charge, and they are quickly dispatched by a wave of arrows and magic before they can rally.
"Well, that was disappointing," the white-clad man announces. "I'd hoped a pack of wolf laguz could at least survive long enough that you'd kill each other. Perhaps if I found a way to make the powder enhance natural abilities..."
"Who are you!?" you demand.
"My name is Jeckel," he answers with a slight bow. "And I thank you for the data, I suppose. But now I must take my leave." Without him adding more powder, you notice the air is already beginning to clear. Only now do you realize that everything was starting to look... red.
"You think I'm just letting you go after you tried to kill us!?" Paen demands.
"And who are you to stop me?" Jeckel asks plainly. You can sense a foreboding power radiating from him.
"King Paen, the Dragon King of Carcina!" he answers boldly, slamming a fist to his chest.
"Dragon King, eh? Ha... The Dragon Emperor barely survived against me. I may have to kill you out of principle..." Oh, this fool king really IS going to be the death of me...
(A) Apologize and let Jeckel go
(B) Swarm him
(C) Swarm him, but only with your best available units
"Ignore him," you say, stepping between the pair. "He's just reacting to the powder. You are... not like us. Just... go back where you came from. Please."
"You-" Paen begins. You elbow him as subtlety as possible. You feel a sharp pain shoot up your elbow as it clangs off his armor. Bad idea.
Jeckel considers you for a moment, then shrugs. "Well, I couldn't care much less what happens to this world or you fools, but I may need more test subjects some day. Very well, consider this a reward for your contributions to my research." With that, he extinguishes the torches in the room with a sweep of his hand, and seems to dissolve into the shadows.
"Well," Holland begins, wrapping his arms around you. "That was fun. But I'd like to get back to bed," he whispers into your ear.
You disengage yourself. "In a bit. There could be more enemies in those tunnels, I think it could be worth checking out.
As if in answer, you hear a faint whimpering noise coming from one of the side tunnels, but you aren't completely sure which one it originates from.
(A) Split into 3 teams to sweep the side tunnels for further threats
(B) Sweep the tunnels with one large group, starting with the one you most think the sound's coming from
(C) Return to the entrance, reset camp with doubled guards
(D) Retreat and GTFO, burning desert sun be damned
"We need to sweep these caves. Stay together, everyone..." You notice John step forward as if he has something to ask, hesitate, then rejoin the group. "It's fine, John, go check on Fumiko. And get started with June, as well."
"Thank you, Lady Rain," he responds with a polite bow. He practically runs back towards the entrance.
You fight the urge to smile at his concern. Fumiko's wounds were severe, but it's quite heartening to see such devotion, especially considering how much he seemed to distrust her before.
You notice Agni saying a short prayer. "I will attend to these corpses so they are not becoming Risen."
"Who knows what they'd be like coming back," Syrene adds. "All... berserk and angry and... Risen -y... I'll give him a... um... hand! Give him a hand."
With the remainder of the group in tow, you head towards the tunnel the sound seems to be coming from. There are two entrances side-by-side, but the noise seems to be a bit louder from the left. It almost sounds like... crying?
You hesitantly take a few steps in. Holland stands on one side of you, holding a torch. Paen stands on the other, holding an axe. In the distance, you can barely make out a shape, partially hidden behind a rock. As you cautiously approach, the whine becomes desperate whimpers as the creature backs away from your group as far as possible. You realize it is a jet black wolf, female from your first impression. As it rubs against the back wall of the small tunnel, its whimpers become a desperate growl. Her fur stands on end, teeth bared.
"Hold, Lady Rain." Archbishop Saul steps in front of you. "Do not scare it further."
"Back..." a deep voice echoes across the walls. "Stay back...! I'll... I'll kill all of you! Stay back!"
(A) Send most of your group away, sheathe your weapons, try to calmly speak to the beast
(B) Leave the creature, but post a few guards right outside the tunnel (choose 3, all units besides Jayce, Cynbel, and June available)
(C) Offer it some food
(D) Kill it!
You sheathe your rapier, and wave at the small horde of heavily armed soldiers behind you. Most of them depart, though Holland and Saul remain with you. Paen lingers for a moment, before announcing he's off to check on Claudia and June. The wolf continues to stand in a defensive stance, but the growling stops.
"Peace, we mean you no harm..." you begin.
"Lies!" the wolf responds. "I saw what you did to my packmates... You slaughtered them!" The snarls return.
"They attacked us!" Holland answers. "We ha-"
"They had lost themselves," Saul says, silencing him. "They were under the control of a madman."
"Then why did you not kill the one controlling them!? You could have saved them! You could have..." The wolf collapses to the ground, whimpering and whining.
Saul steps forward cautiously. You move to stop him, but he waves you off. He slowly approaches the wolf, before kneeling beside her. She looks at him with fear in her eyes, but does not move. "I am sorry, but they were too far gone. All we could offer them was the relief of death... If you wish to say your farewells, we can offer you a few moments to pay your respects. Will you come with me?"
The wolf slowly picks itself up and follows him to the antechamber, tail between her legs. Syrene and Agni are still gathering the corpses in one pile. The wolf stays close behind Saul, shying away from any others who so much as look at her. As Syrene and Agni gather the last of the wolves, she begins whimpering again. Her cries become a single howl, which echoes off the chamber's walls. Saul sits with her, muttering a quiet prayer. Eventually, he places a hand on her back, stopping her howls. "I am sorry, but we must burn their bodies, or they will rise again."
"To prevent the blight... Yes. I will say a few words." With that, her body begins to glow. She rises to her feet, transformed into a young woman. Her skin is an olive brown, and her long, dark hair flows over a pure white gown. She falls to her knees, hands folded, whispering a prayer. Finally, she rises. "It is done," she says simply. Her voice is soft. With that, she retires to her tunnel.
"Wait," you call after her. "Are you... What will you do now?"
"I do not know... My pack... My tribe, it is gone. I have no home to return to."
"Is this not your home?" Holland asks.
"No, we... we are from further north. We came this way, following a sinister presence. We thought it was our duty to destroy it, but..." She sighs heavily.
"Well... Perhaps you would like to come with us?" you ask. "Allow us to escort you to a town. We can't just leave you here. At the very least, come and join us for a meal."
The world slowly comes back into view. You struggle to sit up, but the pain shooting up your leg forces you to stop. It's almost enough to make you slip back into unconsciousness. "Do not struggle," an unfamiliar voice commands. "We have done all we could for your ankle, but it still needs time to heal."
An unfamiliar woman stands over you - dark-skinned, dark-haired, and wearing a white dress. Her ears mark her as a laguz... Laguz? Everything that happened rushes back to you at once. You reach for a sore spot on your face, vaguely remembering someone trying to knock you out. "Claudia..." you mutter. Well, better than letting me keep rampaging, I suppose... The woman helps you sit up. You realize that you're riding on Anna's wagon. It's already night. "How long was I asleep?" you ask.
"All day and most of the night," Anna answers from the seat in front of you. "We can't let everything stop just because the commander needs a nap, y'know?" You can hear the sound of the rest of the army marching ahead of you.
"Is everyone OK?" you ask no one in particular.
"Your friends are all well," the unfamiliar woman answers. "Though the same can not be said for..." Her already soft voice falls to an inscrutable level as her ears and tail sag. "Oh. You are June, yes? I am Harrow, a priestess of my pack. Or, I was..." She sits next to you. "I've decided to come with you, at least until... until... I don't know. I just don't know what else to do..." She wraps her arms around you and begins sobbing into your chest. You awkwardly wrap an arm around her and try to pat her on the head.
New character!
Harrow
Class: Wolf Priestess
Skills: Howl, Shade, Resistance+, Healtouch, Miracle, Bond
Weapons: Strike, Staff
HP: 8
Str: 7
Mag: 9
Skill: 4
Speed: 10
Def: 5
Res: 10
Luck: 6
Equipment: Mend, physic, rescue, vulnerary
"Hey, June! You're up!" Jayce brings his horse around beside Anna's cart to speak with you. "Oh, and I see you've met our new friend." He mouths something to you behind Harrow's back, but you can't tell what he's trying to say.
"Jayce? You're back. So we're..."
"Getting close to Sal-Aldin. We'll be there by morning, probably. It's a shame you were asleep, the villagers had quite a thank-you feast ready for us."
"So, you managed to get them back safely?"
"Of course! It's me we're talking about, right? And Cynbel helped, too, I guess. We ran into a small group of highwaymen, nothing we couldn't handle."
"And what about the villagers that had been wounded in the attack?"
"They didn't make it," a voice answers from the other side. You turn to see Cynbel, a stern expression on his face. "I did all I could, but I am no healer. Still, I envy them. There are fewer deaths more noble than dying to defend your village."
Jayce shakes his head. "June, this guy is just morbid. About the only time he's not like this is when he's talking about his home town. Though he makes a pretty good sales pitch for it." You notice Cynbel crack a slight smile. "Anyway, I should let you get back to sleep. Just wanted to give you this." He tosses you a small blue sack. "I'll let the others know you're awake!" he adds, spurring his horse forward. Cynbel gives a polite nod before following.
Received elixer!
Current stock: 1
Jayce and Cynbel gained support level B
You realize the laguz curled up against you has stopped moving; she seems to have fallen asleep. You sigh and try to go back to sleep yourself.
End of Chapter 17