Eirika and Cormag

This one was requested by . who notes that in Eirika's quest you have to use her to recruit Cormag, but they have no Support. Sorry it's been so long since I last updated but I thank you all for your patience. I hope the wait was worth it.

Support: C

EIRIKA: Sir Cormag, how do you fare today?

CORMAG: I am well Eirika, I must admit I thought a Grado solider joining your army would not be well received. I imagined the other soldiers would not welcome me and I would be spurned, but I have found instead that the others have gone out of their way to make me feel welcomed. It is most unusual and not how things are in Grado's army.

EIRIKA: How are things done in Grado's army?

CORMAG: Strict formalities are followed. Soldiers must recognize rank and speak in the appropriate terms to commanding officers. I would have to address you by your rank as the leader of the army. While there are times when soldiers socialize with each other, it is certainly not during a battle. Socializing is only a loud in camp and at the end of the day.

EIRIKA: I see, it seems as though things are very strict over there. It sounds like and unhappy way to run an army.

CORMAG: Armies are supposed to remain disciplined and strict. Grado's training is the reason their army has performed so well in this war up until this point, though I have heard other countries have different means of controlling and training troops. How is it done in Renais?

EIRIKA: My knowledge of military strategy is limited, but I know of some ways the troops function. Renais prides itself on our paladins, young men and women around 13 years of age who wish to one day become paladins go to an Academy near the castle. There they are trained in horsemanship until they reach the age of 17, if they graduate the academy they become squires to a knight. Eventually when their master thinks it appropriate they will become knights themselves.

CORMAG: I see, and this academy is open to anyone, not just those of noble birth?

EIRIKA: Yes, we allow anyone who thinks they may have the ability to train at this academy, though nobles are encouraged to attend to bring honor to their name.

CORMAG: It is similar in Grado, I myself am a commoner by birth, but I was allowed to join the military and have thus improved my station in life. When I was young my brother and I lived on a farm in rough conditions. Now we share a lavish house in the capital and have a few luxuries to call our own. I am glad that I was able to rise above my birth, in that regard we are not so different.

EIRIKA: It is a shame that we must now use our different military talents in fighting this needless war, I wish it were not so.

CORMAG: Yet I've seen you in combat though milady, I must say I did not expect you to be so skilled with a blade.

EIRIKA: My brother taught me how to handle a sword and I've received some further training from Seth.

CORMAG: I see, they must be good teachers, or you are a fast learner or both. Would you consider having another instructor?

EIRIKA: I would welcome any help by anyone.

CORMAG: I admit you form is good for facing certain enemies, but I can teach you how to more effectively fight against Grado troops. It is certainly a skill worth having.

EIRIKA: Sometimes I forget that many of the enemies I fight have been training their whole lives for war where as my training has been sparse. I feel my ignorance has gotten me in a few rough spots every now and then. I would like to be trained by someone who has spent time with the enemy; I feel it can help me grow.

CORMAG: Good, when this battle ends we will begin your training.

Support: B

EIRIKA: (moving at Cormag) Yaw! Ha! Hee-ya!

CORMAG: Good! Keep coming at me!

EIRIKA: Hy-yaw!

CORMAG: Excellent! We're done for now.

EIRIKA: That was tough!

CORMAG: The key to Grado's strength is in their training. You have to be able to anticipate their next move if you hope to have an advantage against them. They are trained to fight hard and be aggressive so you must either be stronger than them or better trained.

EIRIKA: I see

CORMAG: But that's not all. Grado is trained to fight in ranks and stay close together. If you can break their ranks and cause the enemy to scatter, then maybe you will be able to get the upper hand. Also they follow a strict chain of command, if you kill their leaders then the army may crumble under bad leadership. That is why commanding officers train hard and are much tougher to defeat than regular grunt soldiers.

EIRIKA: I thank you for giving us knowledge of some of these enemy tactics. I will see that we make use of it and will continue to listen to anything you have to say.

CORMAG: You have another advantage that may come in handy but….

EIRIKA: What is it?

CORMAG: Please forgive me, I would not mention it to seem impertinent.

EIRIKA: Go ahead and tell me Cormag I don't care what it is you say.

CORMAG: ….Many of Grado's soldiers would immediately think of you as weak. You are a young princess, of a defeated nation, who was raised in luxury. I would hazard that they would think you are an opponent who would not take much effort to overpower.

EIRIKA: ….

CORMAG: Now obviously I know that's not true, but if you keep playing the "damsel in distress" you could lure your enemies into a false sense of security when they face you. They will think you are an easy opponent, but the truth is you are not.

EIRIKA: …So in other words, pretend as though I can't fight well.

CORMAG: Deception is a key part of any battle strategy. If you can make your foe think one thing when another is true it will give you an edge in battle.

EIRIKA: Does Grado practice these tactics as well?

CORMAG: They used to. Our military strategy used to be one of varied tactics. I noticed that just before this war started it seemed as though the commanders began favoring one of more brute strength. Grado seems to think that because they are so powerful they can overcome anything with enough force, and while that might work in some instances I think it is not the solution to everything. Why my brother created a unique aerial technique that worked well against pirates

EIRIKA: What technique was that?

CORMAG: Our port towns were being attacked by pirates. Now once pirates get out to sea, they have a pretty big advantage against most armies. You either have to sail another ship to catch up to them and board their ship, or what some countries have tried is to send flyers out against their vessels, but that won't work either.

EIRIKA: Why not?

CORMAG: Pirates expect that kind of strategy and always keep a few archers on deck to fight off flyers, as for boarders, well with sheer numbers we could overcome the pirates but we would lose many of our own soldiers in the process. So my brother came up with an idea to attack pirates with a small group of wryven riders.

EIRIKA: So what did this strategy entail?

CORMAG: He would take about 7 with him out to where a pirate ship was. Rather than trying to overpower the pirates he would focus on attacking the sails and rigging of the ship disabling it out in the open. With lots of fast quick strikes the ship would be left sitting there unable to move. Then he would call in the regular Grado navy to finish the job but only after a week. By then the pirates had begun running out of supplies and a lot of the fight was taken out of them.

EIRIKA: I see

CORMAG: Nowadays it seems as though Grado wouldn't waste time with a strategy such as that, they'd rather go in with their entire force and board the ship regardless of how many soldiers it may cost them.

EIRIKA: Do you think using other kind of battle strategies on Grado can turn the tide against them?

CORMAG: I certainly hope so.

Support:A

CORMAG: Lady Eirika how has your training been?

EIRIKA: Very well, Sir Cormag. I always take time to train even when we have been in the midst of battle.

CORMAG: I am glad to see you putting some of my advice to use in the army, it seems we may get the edge in this war after all.

EIRIKA: And what happens when the war ends?

CORMAG:…

EIRIKA: Will you go back to Grado? I know it is your home, but you have done so much to help us that perhaps you would prefer to stay with Renais. We could offer you a position in our army, and maybe a house as well.

CORMAG: I am sorry Princess Eirika, as tempting as that sounds, I have pride in my homeland and I must see that Grado is restored after this terrible tragedy. I and others like me must make sure that no war like this happens in the future.

EIRIKA: I am glad to hear that, I hope you are successful in your attempt…..Sir Cormag may I ask you a question?

CORMAG: Sure, ask whatever you want Lady Eirika.

EIRIKA: What can you tell me about Valter?

CORMAG:…..Why do you want to know?

EIRIKA: I met him only briefly, but he seemed so cruel. His rage seems almost…..unnatural.

CORMAG: I would say that the man we both know now as Valter is a different person than who he was before. I honestly don't know much about him except what my brother told me. About five years ago there were three Imperial Generals in service to Grado, my brother, General Dussel, and Valter. There was a raid on one of our southern towns by some vandals. Valter was sent to deal with them, some of the raiders hid in the houses of villagers and took hostages to try and protect themselves. Valter ordered the soldiers to burn down the houses with the people still inside them in order to stop the raiders. The result was many of those peasants ended up dying, because of that Valter was stripped of his rank and cast out with disgrace from the Grado Army. As far as I know he was only recently reinstated just after Renais fell.

EIRIKA: I wanted to know because the only time I've met him he seemed so incredibly evil, almost to the point of being insane, plus I know that he pursues me so I wish to know anything you can tell me about him.

CORMAG: I've met him a few times, even before the incident where he was cast out of the army he seemed like a peculiar man. He was very anti-social and preferred to keep to himself, he was usually the first to volunteer for any fights and seemed always eager to be in one. He was never what you might call a gentleman, but when I met him recently his very presence sent chills down my spine.

EIRIKA: ….I can't describe the feeling either, but just being near him makes me uncomfortable.

CORMAG: Yeah I don't know what happened to him. Like I said when he was first in the Grado army he was already a bit eccentric, but I think something happened to him during his banishment to make him even more insane. I couldn't begin to guess at what it was, but I hope that we end that monsters life soon.

EIRIKA: You are very concerned with avenging your brother.

CORMAG: It is all I can think about sometimes.

EIRIKA: I hope you don't let that desire consume you as well, I would hate to see what would happen to you if it did.

CORMAG: Tell me honestly Lady Eirika…what would you do if someone killed your brother?

EIRIKA:…

CORMAG: It's alright I think I know. Regardless of how gentle you seem now if you were to lose your brother to an enemy I would hate to see the fury it would unleash.

EIRIKA:…

CORMAG: I know it is hard to imagine, but I think it would awaken a savagery that could not be stopped. I think there is nothing you would not do to ensure that you exacted revenge against the one who stole your brother's life.

EIRIKA:…

CORMAG: It is how I felt when I lost my brother, I will not forget that feeling, nor how I could think of nothing but revenge and how sweet it will be when I have it. My brother's soul will be at peace when his killer is no more. Tell me you would do anything for your brother, so what would you do to his killer?

EIRIKA:…..I would not rest until he is defeated, but I also know that my brother will not fall so easily. If ever I must avenge him then I will not hesitate to do so.

End of Game

Nothing happens at the end of the game, An "A" Support doesn't make them do anything special