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After her initial reaction, Irene seems... Sad, but regains her composure and asks for a moment alone to puzzle out her thoughts.

When her break takes awhile, Shea sends you and Leigh to find her, where she's simply... Sitting and crying to herself at Esmer's untimely death, even still.

"Wh-why didn't you listen to us..?" She sniffles. "Were you... Mind-controlled all along, or was this genuine? I... I-I don't understand..."

The two of you decide to leave her to herself awhile, exchanging awkward looks and vaguely telling Shea that she'll be there shortly.

When she rejoins the group, she looks as though she hadn't been violently sobbing at all. "Have scouts reported back?" She asks.

Shea nods, gesturing to Calof. The bird-man says "Queen Eva and General Reese have been... Forced to divide their forces. It looks like a lot of Tarvos, Garou, and even Fire Dragon warriors are holding them off..."

Yvette recalls, "the manaketes all remember that Lars and General Derrick did not want them dying for this cause of the late prince's... All the way back during the uprising in Cord, all but their leader were asked not to fight for him in the final battle."

Romulus, nearby and sending away a Garou messenger, adds on her behalf, "Queen Eva is... Not at all pleased with the Tarvosians' betrayal, but they're remaining loyal to the word of Eyven and Welles on this one. We don't know how much King Garrus knows about... Anything. By the sound of things, however, a small force led by Queen Eva and Sir Jorden have pushed past the diversions while General Reese and his main force are handling our unexpected allies. They likely intend to either cut us off or trap us in the temple Paula resides in."

Shea sighs. "So we'll be unable to avoid direct conflict with my mother... But do we hurry and capture Paula first, or make sure this force is addressed before it can confront us at the temple?"

>A. You have no input
>B. Warp straight to Paula and co.
>C. Meet the queen and co.

>>44996275
Vote time renewed.

>>44996732
And again.

>>44996275
>C. Meet the queen and co.

>>44996275
>C. Meet the queen and co.

>>44997172
>>44997185
"I... Think it might be wise for us to challenge Queen Eva first," you interject. "If the battle with Paula lasts too long, she can surround us and the entire temple, while it seems likely Paula won't send anyone extra out when she's already nursing a missing hand and wounded ego..."

Shea nods after a moment. "And... If we can capture my mother-no easy task, mind all of you-we might be able to get the rest of the knights of Neir to surrender, make capturing aunt Paula significantly easier... Though that being said, she'll now have more time to prepare her own defenses for our arrival."

Shea and Irene spend awhile after this planning out the tactical this and that of actually pulling this off, giving you all about... An hour or so before departing Northeast to challenge Eva.

>A. Spend time with someone beforehand (specify)
>B. Skip ahead
>C. Write-in action

>>44997454
>A. Spend time with someone beforehand (Leigh)

>>44997454
>A. Spend time with someone beforehand (Leigh)

>>44997541
>>44997567
You and Leigh don't hesitate to make up for lost time, being... Pretty much inseparable as the break goes on.

"To think that this whole thing is coming to a close," she remarks.

"What do you mean by 'this whole thing?'"

"I mean, like... even the Ymir Group that we met Marrius' Group fighting against were founded by someone who's a part of... All this. The entire reason we became mercenaries, the underlying causes to at least half of the jobs we've gotten, what drove us apart and back together... It's closing out a chapter of our lives, it feels like."

You shake your head. "I mean... Things really don't end so easily. We're not just going to... Sit around inside history books forever just because we topple a conspiracy."

Leigh shrugs once more. "Yeah, I guess you're right... But you've always been better about looking into the future as it is..." She gives you a curious look. "Speaking of which, has all that stuff with Irene and the Mage General helped you sort out what comes next?"

That's a... Good question, actually. You've said in the past that you don't plan on remaining a mercenary forever, but you haven't taken much time to think about the what next.

>A. Simply say as much
>B. You're taking a vacation
>C. Magic-science is a pretty promising field...
>D. You could go into politics in Elza Oasis
>E. Maybe you will just keep fighting
>F. Write-in response

>>44997819
>B. You're taking a vacation

>>44997819
>B. You're taking a vacation
>C. Magic-science is a pretty promising field...

>>44997905
>>44997909
"What we need is a damned vacation," you say to your mutual amusement.

Leigh nods. "I mean, we've... Saved up enough to take it easy for a little while, certainly. After that, I mean, Irene's already promised me and Yancy our jobs back, and Yulea never legitimately left..."

"Speaking of Irene," you say, "all our studying together's really made me feel like I could accomplish something if I set my sights on magitechnology. The sky's the limit on what magic can do, and there's so much unexplored potential..."

Leigh smiles. "So... Yeah, I think the two of us will do well for ourselves."

"Together, naturally."

Leigh nods, smiling, and the two of you simply hold hands for awhile.

You happen across some other conversations as you walk around the ruined old village a bit.

"So Ansi," Jolie says to your friend, "if there was... Anything you wanted to ask, I would be open to hear it after these next couple battles..."

You talk a bit with Yancy and Yulea after that. Yulea says, "it... really makes me happy to see everyone back together again."

Yancy rolls her eyes. "I mean, I... Guess I missed everyone else too. Didn't realize it until we were gone for awhile, but. I really did."

Teasingly, Leigh responds, "that's not nearly as excited as you sounded when you heard we'd be meeting them here~."

"Sh-shut up..." Yancy says, though not necessarily denying it. "I'm not allowed to appreciate my friends now? I'm not completely heartless!"

>A. Write-in response
>B. Talk to someone else (specify)
>C. Skip ahead

>>44998271
>B. Talk to someone else (Irene)
Want to check up on her again.

>>44998551
After that bit of catch-up, you finally decide to pay Irene a visit.

"Ah, Lloyd. We were just preparing to set off."

"Yeah, I know, I was just..."

She detects the tone in your voice and frowns. "I'll... Be fine, Lloyd. Thank you for your concern." She gathers up her assorted tomes. "That was... Unexpected, with the Berserk staff. I actually felt bad for Paula watching that..."

"It... Was pretty brutal, but it helped us win the fight."

Irene nods, shifting in place. "She's... Going to be out for blood whenever we reach the temple, if she figured out that you cost her her hand and humiliated her... Esmer claimed that there were Wampyr in there, too, and that Paula even has the staff." Her eyes widen. "Gods, I hope she doesn't end up turning her entire guard into those."

>A. All the easier for mages
>B. That would be cruel
>C. You doubt she'd go so far
>D. Makes no difference honestly
>E. Write-in response

>>44998788
>C. You doubt she'd go so far

>>44998918
"It's... There's not any tactical reason to turn every single mercenary in your lot into a Wampyr, especially when there's a lot of skilled mages in the enemy group."

Irene sighs. "By now you've noticed that Paula isn't... An entirely logical person, so I worry still."

"Why did you side with her in the first place, exactly? Like... Before you turned your back on all of them."

"Esmer," she responds rather plainly. "It was... Out of favor towards my mentor and her worldview. I suppose I didn't understand the gravity of what that meant until she unleashed Lupus."

>A. Write-in response
>B. Try to talk to someone else (specify)
>C. Skip ahead

>>44999138
>C. Skip ahead
Pretty much out of time.

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>>44999392
Shea's group heads north shortly after that conversation ends, warned by Calof as he scouts ahead.

At one point, however, he fails to return, and sending Sheena ahead afterwards causes her to report back. "Calof is... Currently stuck in a fight with a fire dragon. I think it might be sir Jorden."

Yvette responds, "and Queen Eva? Was she spotted as well?"

Sheena says, "I mean... I think that her wyvern was there, but... I didn't really have time to see her in person. Come on, they're not far from here!"

And sure enough, not far off, you see Calof, uselessly trying to pierce a fire dragon's skin with his arrows and narrowly avoiding blasts of fire and gestures of brute force. "You're nimble, spy, but you underestimate how fast I can move!"

Calof is slammed into the ground by his tail moments after saying that, Jorden putting his foot over him.

"That being said," he says, "you fought well... I'll make this quick."

They... Might be in range of your staves, or your Eclipse tome...

>A. Do something! (specify)
>B. Hurry towards him
>C. Make a distraction? (specification preferred but not needed)
>D. Stay back, don't rush in
>E. Write-in response

>>44999688
>A. Do something! (Rescue Staff: Calof)
Move forwards enough while getting the staff out to be sure he'd be in range.

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>>44999780
Irene launches Mire, Asra rushes forward unhesitatingly to save her comrade, and you already have the Rescue staff ready...

Nonetheless, Asra cannot help but cringe and halt a moment as the fire dragon's foot stamps down with a thud! She quickly looks back, however, most likely thankful to see Calof already being healed up by you.

"He... Caught me scouting the place out," he says, "they were just getting ready to leave again, but he demanded I face him one-on-one... F-figured it'd buy you guys some time to... Entertain..." He cringes, fellow healer Yancy insisting he not move too much and having Sheena escort him out of the battlefield on Buccaneer.

"So the rest of you traitors have arrived!" He bellows, taking to the skies and approaching. "Queen Eva won't even need to leave her tent. With me, knights!"

Several Paladins and similar sort follow Jorden, who reverts to his heavyset human form and is handed an axe... Wait a moment, that's Galeforce, the axe Lupus stole from Marrius, who looted it off Helena! You know this axe had a special magical power, but... What was it?

"Princess Shea!" He calls, seeing her and Riga in the skies on their wyverns. "Put an end to this game of yours right now! Turning such longstanding allies of Neir against her... Regressing decades of garou integration, turning my mother's people on us! This has gone too far!"

Drawing her Killer Lance, Riga rushes towards Jorden.

>A. Use your staff to pull her away!
>B. Attack Jorden yourself!
>C. See how this plays out...
>D. Write-in action

>>45000097
Vote time renewed.

>>45000097
>A. Use your staff to pull her away!
Galeforce's power was wind magic and being incredibly deadly to fliers, IIRC, so we should probably keep her from getting killed, even if she'll be unhappy about it. I'm presuming Riga having to rush him combined with the generally high movement speed of fliers means that he's too far away to attack Shea as there's no mention of him being mounted. Make sure that Shea is also aware of the axe asap and knows to keep distance, as well as any other allied fliers on the field.

>>45000097
Can the rescue staff work on enemies? If so, tele him on over and in the confusion, shank him.

>>45000762
While it can in this story, if resistance is low enough, I... Wouldn't recommend doing it at the moment. He'll probably already be swinging, and you'd just end up going the way of Yone.

>>45000711
You use Rescue on Riga, causing her to stick her lance straight into the ground. Pulling it back out, she calls out, "h-hey, what was that about?!" before simply looking as you point towards wind magic being launched... Directly where she was previously standing, and Shea barely able to avoid it herself merely by having been slightly behind her.

"So it is that axe..." She calls out, "Riga, dismount!" Shea, however, decidedly refuses to dismount, instead getting even closer to Jorden.

"What the hell is that hypocrite doing?!" Riga proclaims as she sends her wyvern away and gets into a dismounted fighting stance.

Yvette, riding nearby, responds, "she's to be taken alive, and knows Jorden knows it..." She closes her eyes and shakes her head before riding towards her and the rest of the commotion. "Foolish..."

And like that, a full-out fight begins, you and Riga hurrying towards assorted mounted foes hoping to support Jorden, getting between the two of you and the two of them+Yvette.

Looks like you've got... Three paladins before you, with a silver sword, lance, and axe each.

>A. Attack one! (specify which, tome of choice optional)
>B. Attempt to berserk someone (again, specify)
>C. Do something else (specify)
>D. Pull back
>E. Push through and seek out the queen
>F. Stand around

>>45000991
>A. Attack one! (Axe Paladin, probably Carreau)
I doubt we'd use the artillery tome for this, which was Eclipse's function, IIRC. Axe because he has triangle advantage on Riga's killer lance, and so must die.

Berserk only has a few uses, so I'd prefer to wait for something more threatening and potentially disastrous to the enemy than a paladin with normal late-game gear that's not adjacent to a caster or archer at the start of a battle.

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>>45001269
The paladin with an axe is your immediate target of choice, and the nearby Asra supports your decision with a well-tossed knife, bringing her down in a matter of seconds.

By now, Riga has gravely injured the swordsman, leaving only the woman with the lance to strike down.

Again, no match for the three of you, though Asra doesn't stick around to challenge Jorden like the rest of you, instead heading off to support Bolse. In the process, she passes Tobias and Colleen holding their own against an especially unruly berserker, likely silently deeming them fine on their own.

Seeing himself outnumbered 4:1, Jorden gets off of the defensive, tossing his axe TO said berserker in the middle of shifting to his dragon form. "Catch, sir Rovin!"

The fire dragon shoves Shea, Yvette, and Riga away with its tail, you already naturally being a bit behind everyone else...

>A. Turn and support Colleen and Tobias
>B. Keep fighting Jorden
>C. Look for others in need of help
>D. Write-in response
>E. Do nothing

>>45001510
>A. Turn and support Colleen and Tobias
Legendary weapon in the hands of an offense-oriented class could be really bad. Might be a good moment for Eclipse, depending on how far away he is and how wounded he seems.

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>>45001636
Lyeim's siblings seem to be in direr need than you, just from your personal experiences with Galeforce.

You finally use Eclipse for the first time, thankful that the not-always-accurate long-range weapon hits its mark admirably, stopping a blast of wind magic from ripping Colleen in half. The force of the strike does knock her on her ass, though Tobias is quick to help her up, then bounding about transformed in circles around the berserker.

While he's distracted by Tobias, Colleen hesitates several moments before pushing forward and pushing a Steel Lance through the berserker's dominant hand.

In response, the big fellow hoists her up by the neck, only for the nearby Tomnus to strike him with his Light Brand.

"A hit for the ages, and this coming from a musician!" Kneil quips.

"But more importantly," Tomnus says, "is our dearest lancer alright?"

Colleen nods slowly with a small smile, and Tobias, nearby, decides now would be a good time to lay down in the grass.

>A. Keep up with them
>B. Isn't Jorden still being fought right behind you?
>C. Write-in response
>D. Stand there

>>45001862
>Tobias, nearby, decides now would be a good time to lay down in the grass
To be taken literally or did he go down from wounds/wind?

>>45001947
Taken literally. He's a bit of a strange fellow.

>>45001982
Alright, in that case, since the berserker is probably boned (presumably took damage before we intervened, halved HP from eclipse, steel lance crippling the dominant hand, probably gimping accuracy or making it impossible to wield the legendary properly, since they demand utmost skill, a light brand attack, and being a melee class that relies on high HP to not die from bad def/res), I think Jorden is now the highest threat again.

>>45001862
>B. Isn't Jorden still being fought right behind you?

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>>45002146
Alright, now that that's dealt with, you think it's safe to turn towards Jorden once more and oh hell you almost got roasted.

Barely getting out of the way of Jorden's fiery breath, you return to Carreau usage, and he speaks to you personally as he shrugs off various attacks. "You think you're so special, using your tricks to help kill my men. Well, see if you can 'clever' you way out of incineration, traitor!"

Despite how intense this continually is, despite all of you getting increasingly tired out, Shea declares, "a-all of you keep at it! He's not invincible just because he's durable!"

And sure enough, as time goes on, his strikes become less focused, and he falls behind,
takes more damage more easily.

"No, I... I refuse this fate! I still have... Th-thousands of years yet to live! To be the greatest warrior of all time!"

Reverting to human form, he picks up a fallen comrade's axe and rushes towards Riga, who meets him with her Killer Lance...

...and a fiery burst separates the two fighters from each other.

An armored woman with red, curly hair, wearing an old-looking headband, points a flame lance towards the fight from atop a wyvern of her own.

"You've done well, Sir Jorden," she says, "now rest."

"Your majesty... This was a shameful display."

"Hardly. Now rest. I can lead things from here, now that I've finally found where that damned flame lance was being kept..."

>To be continued next thread
Maybe the fight with Jorden could've lasted a little longer, but I was running low on ideas and we were approaching end-thread times.

Thanks for playing. As always, update twitter is qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around in-thread to chat for awhile.

>>45002467
Thanks for running.

Is Jorden currently closer to her or to us, by the way?

>>45002544
Always a pleasure.

Closer in what way?

>>45002575
Distance between physical locations.

>>45002590
By the start of the next thread, he'll be out of the battlefield and behind Eva's knights' lines recuperating, so unless someone specifically sought to approach him...

>>45002605
Alright, that's fine. I was idly wondering if a certain dickish-but-effective plan might be theoretically possible, not that I'd have voted for it anyway.

>>45002651
Wanna say it anyway?

>>45002694
Basically, try to berserk the wounded end boss fire dragon (who is probably resistant to fire) so he'd attack the other end boss wielding a fire-based weapon and relying on a wyvern to fly, have them fight to the death while our allies recuperate and regroup, if either looks like they're getting too much of an upper hand, smack them with Eclipse, repeat until one is dead and the other is severely wounded or both are dead. I don't really want Jorden or Eva to die quite like that, though.

>>45002772
I was actually somewhat surprised nobody suggested berserking Jorden during this thread. Would've ended in Eva knocking him out and calling you a shitty person for doing that, but it would have severely lessened the number of knights.

Not sure how well killing Eva would go over with Shea and Cargia, though it is a clever idea solely in terms of "what would make our enemies lose the fastest."

Is it really fair to call them end bosses when they were fought before the other remaining major antagonists, bar Esmer?

>>45002858
I usually classify every boss character in the last handful of chapters in a fire emblem game as an end boss, since they all generally have the same levels of gear and stats.

Jorden seemed to have an ally of ours either close to or closing with him the entire thread, otherwise I would've been all for berserking him.

Kind of hypocritical of Eva to judge people for that, though I guess it's possible she's also been mindfucked into ignorance of the mindfucking her own side is doing to basically everyone.

>>45003016
Yep, it was rather deliberate that she's on the route to becoming a more unpleasant leader than Victoria ever used to be before she and her dad led the takeover of Malva.

She's come to see a lot of this as necessary side-effects of working with Paula to leave the continent conquerable.